1915-05-29ii

The news from the front had been grim for so long during the month of May, 1915, that a change from reading casualty lists was welcome, even if the change still had a military flavor.

On May 28, 1915, the scarlet-coated militia troops of the 13^th Royal Regiment, to a number of 449, gathered at the armories on James street north to muster for a parade. It had been announced in the local newspapers that something extra would happen before the troops marched away:

“The new armories held a very large crowd last evening the occasion being the parade of the 13^th Royal Regiment for one thing, and secondly, the announcement that the popular song, When You Wore a Tulip and I Wore a Big Red Rose was to be sung by the regiment. Those who went down were not disappointed for the boys sang with a right good will. And not content with singing they started on good old Tipperary as an encore. Assisting them was the band, the boys singing for some time.

“A route march through the south west end of the city formed the work of the regiment for the evening. The route went from James to Main to Locke to Stanley to Queen to Herkimer to James and back to the armories”¹

¹ “13^th Parade : Large Crowds at the Armories Heard the Soldiers Sing”

Hamilton Spectator.   May 29, 1915.

13th Royal Regiment on James Street

Armories