1915-01-04bf

“The fact that Great Britain is now plunged in war was brought vividly before a bystander at the high level bridge yesterday.”

Hamilton Times.   January 4, 1915.

It happened at the base of the Burlington Heights, the sand and gravel bar separating the west end of Hamilton Harbor from Coote’s Paradise.

 A branch of the Toronto, Hamilton and Buffalo railway crossed the Desjardins canal in the vicinity. That made it a location which could be subjected to depredations by enemy spies wishing to disrupt the economy, or even kill passengers on the trains passing by. In response to such a potential threat, members of the Hamilton Home Guard were placed on guard there.

On January 3, 1915, one of  the guards was called to action:

“A man was standing near the railroad tracks, and when spied by one of the sentries on duty at the bridge, he was told to move on. Instead of obeying the soldier’s order, the man told him to mind his own business, and continued to stay where he was.

“Again the soldier ordered the man to go, and he replied that he would go when he got good and ready.

“The sentry immediately brought his rifle to his shoulder and once more ordered him to go away, and when he did not go, the soldier fired over his head. This time the brave stranger went, and according to an eye-witness, he went fast.”¹

¹ “He Moved Fast : When Rifle Bullet Whistled Over His Head”

Hamilton Times. January 4, 1915.

When asked for a reaction about the discharge of a rifle within the city boundaries, Hamilton Police Chief Smith had words of support for all sentries on duty with the Hamilton Home Guard :

“In commenting on the occurrence today, Chief Smith stated that a great many people do not take the precautions in this country seriously enough, and are inclined to jeer at the soldiers. He also stated that this might be a lesson to some.”¹