1915-05-15tb

An editorial, with the headline, Hamilton Hit Hard,  from the Hamilton Times, May 15, 1915 :

“Proud as we are of the part the Canadians took in the Battle of Ypres, when they ‘saved the situation,’ and willing as we are to pay the price, we are only yet beginning to realize the awful cost of this fight to Canada, and to Hamilton especially.

“Day after day instalments of the long ‘honor roll’ come to hand, and it is with much trepidation the we san the list of the killed, wounded and missing, in dread that we should find the name of some Hamiltonian or some friend. The list so far shows the boys of the 13^th and 91^st bore a heavy share in the fighting, and that they figure numerously in the casualty list.

“But this we were all more or less prepared for. The young men themselves knew what they were going to, yet they went fearlessly to face the enemy. They were willing and ready to sacrifice themselves on the altar of their country, and their wives, mothers and sisters had steeled themselves for whatever the future bore for them and theirs.

“In their death or disablement, we mourn with great sorrow. But this sorrow is brightened and almost made joyful in the supreme satisfaction vouchsafed us that the boys bore themselves as the heroes we know that they were. They served their King and country as true patriots and brave soldiers, and the price has been paid. There are no vain regrets.

“In the Lusitania horror, Hamilton was also hit hard, nearly a score of Hamilton people going down to watery graves as the ship disappeared into the depths. For those we can only mourn, uncheered by any consoling feature, unless it be that the sympathy of the whole neutral world goes out to those who mourn the hellish catastrophe.

“But, after all, even this hellish affair has its redeeming qualities. It has like a flash laid bare the horror and detestation with which mankind outside of the enemy countries look upon the awful deed, and has nerved the allies to a firmer determination than ever to put an end for all time to Prussianism.

“Not only so, but the blow that struck the Lusitania struck a greater blow at Germany – a blow that sunk her so deep that she will take centuries to rise again. The torpedo that sank the great ship sank the German Empire to the depths of infamy.”¹

¹ “Hamilton Hard Hit”

Hamilton Times.   May 15, 1915.