Saturday, 8 April 2017

1915-05-17gg

It took ten days to complete. With the combination of patriotic artwork, detailed financial and other information for prospective recruits plus other additions to make it interesting, the poster promised at the first meeting of the Hamilton Recruiting League appeared. Published by the three Hamilton daily newspapers, plus being printed for placing in prominent locations throughout the city, the poster is shown below in sections.
 
 

Canada Calls

The Empire Needs You

 

“If we do not do more in the future than we have done in the past, we are going to be beaten.” These are the words of Sir John Simon, British Home Secretary. We are going to do more and WE WILL NOT BE BEATEN, but Canada must send more men and Hamilton must do its share.

What will happen to the women of Hamilton if Britain were beaten ? Ask the women of Belgium ! They know!

 

 

Men of Hamilton

 

Will you let the Hun trample British liberty in the dirt, or will you do your bit? Never mind the shirkers and the won’t-works. You are in that class. Their case will be attended to next winter. Able-bodied men under forty-five will not expect much charity, so they will not be disappointed – if they fail to answer their country’s call NOW. The women of Hamilton want you to protect them and fight for them. Will you do it?

On the middle left portion of the poster, the following questions and answers were provided :
 Here are the questions you would ask and their answers.
 
Q. I am a married man, must I have the consent of my wife to enlist?
 
A. Yes, the following must get proper consent in order to be able to enlist for active service.  (a) Husbands  (b) Men over 18 and under 21 years of age must get the consent of both parents. (c) Some who are only support of a widowed mother or whose parents are dependent on them for support.
 
Q. What are the rates of pay?
 
A. The rate of pay is One dollar per day before moving to camp. A further allowance of 75 cents per day is made to cover meals and lodging, making $1.75 per day while in Hamilton. When in camp and on active service a field allowance of 10c is made making the total pay $1.10 per day. (Ibid - $1.85?)
 
Q. What examinations must a man pass in order to be accepted?
 
A. The recruit must be over 18 and under 45 years of age. The minimum height is 5 ft. 3 in., and the minimum chest measurement 33½ inches, with the chest normally expanded. The eyesight must be good, teeth in good condition. He must have free use of his limbs and not be flat footed. It is also necessary for the heart to be strong.
 
Q. Are the requirements with regard to teeth as strict as before?
 
A. No. Arrangements have now been made at Niagara Camp to do the necessary work on teeth that are not in quite good enough state of preservation. Men are now being accepted with partial sets of false teeth, this being left to the discretion of the examining doctor. A great many men who were turned down for the first and second contingents may now join under the present regulations.
 
Q. I am a married man, what provision will be made for my wife and family?
 
A. It has been found that a woman requires an income of $30 per month on her own account. $7.50 for a child between the ages of 10 and 15, $4.50 for a child between the ages of 5 and 10, and $3.00 for a child under 5 years.
 
Q. When does the separation allowance start?
 
A. Immediately upon being sworn in and enlisted in Hamilton, but the first installment will not be paid until after the final acceptance for overseas service.
 
Q. To whom are Government Separation Allowances granted?
 
A. Separation Allowances are granted (a) wives (b) children of a widower if they are in the care of a guardian. Girls over 16 and boys over 14 years of age are not eligible. (c) Widowed mothers, if the son is unmarried and her sole support.
 
q. What pensions are paid in case of the death of a soldier?
 
A. The widow receives $22 a month and $5.oo a month for each child. In the case of a soldier leaving a wife and three children, the pension would be $37.00 a month or $484 a year.
 
On the middle left of the poster were more questions and answers, focussed specifically on financial matters:
 
 

 
See the Recruiting Officer at Once.
 
Q. How much pay must a soldier assign to his wife?
 
A. Every man who receives a separation allowance for his wife must assign half his pay ($16.50 per month) and may assign as much as $25.00 per month, but not more.
 
Q. Is the assigned pay figured as part of the income necessary to support a family ?
 
A. No. The assigned pay of the soldier is not taken into account by the Patriotic Fund in determining the amount to be paid to a depending family for support. In the case of the family described above, if the soldier assigned $20 per month, the total income of the family would be $69.50 per month.
 
Q. What is the reason for making a man assign at least one-half his pay?
 
A. The Government believes that if they are willing to allow a separation, the soldier should be equally willing to assign at least one-half of the pay received. It is hoped the families of soldiers will have the foresight and common sense to put in the bank all the assigned pay received so that when the soldier returns, there may be a nest egg to help the family along until he receives employment.
 
Q. How is the Government allowance paid?
 
A. It is paid by check on the Bank of Montreal forwarded from Ottawa.
 
Q. How is the assigned pay of a soldier forwarded?
A. It is also paid by check from Ottawa.
 
Q. How is the Patriotic Fund allowance paid?
 
A. It is paid by the local branch of the Patriotic Fynd.
 
Q. My wife is in England. Will she receive a Government separation allowance?
 
A. Yes, this will be forwarded from Ottawa regularly just as if the wife were living in Canada.
 
Q. Will the Canadian Patriotic Fund help the dependents of soldiers living in England or out of Canada?
 
A. No. The separation will be forwarded, but any other assistance needed would be of a local nature. If there is more than one child between the ages of 10 and 15, $7.50 is allowed for only one child, and $4.50 for the others. In order for any man wishing to enlist to find out how his family will be left, he may figure the total income from the above rates.
Thus, if a man leaves a wife and four children, aged 13, 11, 7 and 3, the income would be $30.00 for the wife, $7.50 for the 13 year old, and $4.50 for the one 11 and 7, and $3.00 for the 3 year old child, being a total of $49.50 per month.
 
Q. How much of the family income does the Patriotic Fund pay ?
 
A. The Government allowance is $30.00 per month to the wife of a soldier, the balance is made up by the Patriotic Fund. Thus, in the above case, $30.00 would be paid as a Government separation allowance and $29.50 per month would be paid by the Patriotic Fund. In no case, however, will the Patriotic Fund pay more than $40.00 per month, and in the case of large families, a certain amount of discretion is allowed to the officers of the fund.
Directly in the middle between the two question and answer lists was a photograph and information regarding the Batchelor family:
 
One Family’s Contribution.
 
C. L. Batchelor, 31 Fairholt Road, takes pride in the showing his family has made in these days of distress. Mr. Batchelor has four boys in the Canadian army, the above being a photo of the four lads. “I trust the young men of this city, looking at the picture, will feel inspired to do their duty as these young men are doing,” said the proud parent, as he handed in the photograph.
The young men are : Pte. Martin Batchelor, seated, 19th battalion, 2nd contingent; Bugler Frank Batchelor, 58th battalion, on the left; Pte. Harold Batchelor, 19th battalion center, standing; and Bugler Victor Batchelor, 5th contingent, right, standing. All boys are old members of the 91st Highlanders.
 
Across the bottom of the poster were the following quotes :
 
“Whatever has been dealt out to Belgium, France and Poland will be our fate tenfold if we fail to subdue the Germans.”  - Rudyard Kipling.
 
“It’s up to the women of Canada to send forth their husbands, their sons and their sweethearts. They are all needed.”
-      Lieut.-Col. Labatt.
 
 
 
 
 

 

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