1912-04-10pp

“Threatening weather, which at any moment might have deluged the streets of the city with torrents of rain, did not prevent thousands of Hamiltonians from watching the big military parade on Saturday afternoon.”

Hamilton Times.  April 12, 1915.

The preparations had been made faultlessly and when bells of the Hamilton City Hall chimed out the 2 o’clock hour, the agreed-upon starting time, the huge military parade began :

“With a promptness that bespoke military system, the parade took place and the flower of Canadian chivalry, young men wearing the king’s uniform, passed along the principal streets.

“That they were a splendid type of Canadian, physically and otherwise, was evidenced by the sun-burned faces that smiled at friends, as the parade passed along. And that Hamilton people have every faith and a high degree of patriotic feeling, was evidenced by the cheering and applause that greeted the soldiers as they made the five-mile march through Hamilton streets.”¹

¹ Hamilton Times.    April 12, 1915.

The great military parade of April 10, 1915 provoked enthusiasm, but it also elicited mixed feelings among those who lined the streets to watch. The outburst of patriotism that had been so pervasive back in August had been tempered by how the war was becoming ever more deadly, with no end in sight:

“War is a man’s game. This war – the greatest in all history – is for red-blooded men only. There is no place in the blood-drenched trenches for the weak-kneed, the craven-hearted, the infirm.

“When Britain called, Canada, main link in the all-red chain that encircles the globe, gave the very best she had to offer, the flower of her manhood. For eight months this war against the tyrant has been waged. Back in October of last year, Hamilton bade good-bye to the first of her sons who answered the call. Many of these have since met death on the field of honor. Then followed the call for the second and yet another for a third.

“It was to do honor to those brave boys of the second and third contingents that Hamilton turned out en masse on Saturday afternoon.  And the war – its full meaning – was brought  closer home on Saturday than at any other time since the outbreak of hostilities.

“Thousands and tens of thousands – it seemed that all Hamilton thronged the line of march – greeted the khaki-clad warriors as they swung past with machine-like precision. It was by far the most important military parade ever held in Hamilton.

“The streets along the line of march were decked in holiday attire, but this was no holiday. These soldiers, many of them, perhaps, were walking Hamilton streets for the last time. For some of them are possibly destined to pass out and sleep in unmarked graves, far from their native soil. Such if the war god’s toll.

“Cheer after cheer volleyed from the thousands of throats as the soldiery passed, but many there were who looked on, sad-eyed and disconsolate. These were the mothers, worst affected of all by the war. ”²

² “Crack 19^th Battalion in Hamilton Streets : Lieut.-Col. McLaren’s Command is Viewed by Thousands”

Hamilton Spectator.   April 12, 1915.

At the Hamilton City Hall, a reviewing stand has been set up. It was occupied by many political dignitaries, notably Hamilton’s own Sir John Gibson, the Lieutenant-Governor of Ontario, who officially took the salute:

“Only the officers of the different companies gave the salute, the men in the ranks simply responding to the order, ‘Eyes right.” The officers held the salute until the hall was passed.”²

Of interest to many spectators of the parade was a group of movie-camera operators:

“In front of the city hall, a battery of moving-picture machines was clicking off hundreds of feet of film, faithfully reproducing every movement and gesture. At other points along the line of march, movie picture operators were stationed. Some there were in the crowds, who thrust themselves before the cameras, eager to be snapped , while others covered their faces and ducked out of range.”¹

Despite the serious mode that pervaded, there were at least two lighter moments, the first involving a young lady:

“Those who had friends in the line of soldiers did not hesitate to call them by name, and receive in return a nod and smile of greeting. One young lady perched on top of an automobile was vainly looking for friends she had hoped to see in the line, but after the first fifty of the boys had passed, she gave up the task as a hopeless one, exclaiming, ‘Why, they all look alike in their khaki uniforms.’ ”

It was an usually hot afternoon for an April in Hamilton, and at least one of the participants in the parade decided to stop marching:

“”After marching steadily with the men until Charlton avenue, the bear mascot of the regiment was compelled to drop out of the line. Susie did not show any desire to go further, being content to watch the 36^th battalion troop by, and later be led back to the armories.”²

The parade route was James to King, to Bay, to Charlton, to James, to Main, to Wentworth, to King, to James and back to the armories again.

Back at the armories, the troops were served tea, sandwiches, pies and other treats after they were dismissed. Many did later hasten up James street to the dock of the Macassa for the return back to Toronto. However, many of the Hamilton boys were given a leave of absence and allowed to remain with their friends and families until the following morning.

After many long farewells, the soldiers, whether they left immediately after the end of the parade, or the following morning, knew that they would soon be across the Atlantic and uncertain whether they would ever return.