1915-04-09rr

“After a long sickness and a stay in a hospital in England, Alexander Davidson, 553 Barton street east, arrived in this city with several other soldiers.`

Hamilton Times.   April 9, 1915.

For Alexander Davidson , his experiences as a soldier overseas did not involve combat at the front:

``Davidson enlisted with the first contingent, and while at Salisbury Plain was taken ill.``¹

¹ “Soldiers Back from England Talk to Times : A Bunch of Canadian Soldiers Reached Hamilton This Morning.”

Hamilton Times.   April 9, 1915 .

For Davidson, like so many other Hamiltonians who had immediately enlisted during the excitement of August, 1914, he was sent off from the city amid huge cheering crowds at the train station. He then had undergone extensive training at Valcartier, Quebec and had endured the ocean crossing to get to England.

Upon disembarking the troop ship in England,  he and his fellow soldiers on that voyage were marched to Salisbury Plain for further training until they would be sent across the English Channel en route to the front.

While at Salisbury Plain, and just before he was to be sent to the trenches, Davidson became seriously ill with bronchial pneumonia:

``When spoken to this morning by a Times reporter, he was rather downcast over his inability to get to the front, and even now is in such condition that he will likely have to go to the hospital.

“ ‘The great trouble was the water and mud at Salisbury’ said Davison, and attributed his sickness to this. ‘When we were sleeping in tents, there was no sickness, but as soon as the huts were built, meningitis, pneumonia and rheumatism put in an appearance. This may have been caused by the manner in which the huts were built, as none of us were skilled carpenters, and in many of the huts, large chinks let in the wind and water. There is not much to say about the mud. I have read enough about that, but when I say it was often over our knees, you can understand our position.

“When asked about the food, Mr. Davidson said it was fine at Valcartier, but worse at Salisbury. ‘The jam we got at Salisbury was really funny,’ he said, ‘You did not know whether  you were eating jam or chop suey. Vegetables and egg shells were in that jam, and the meat was bad. There was trouble over it, and graft was charged, and latterly the food was greatly improved.”

“Davidson said that his throat was bad and that he intended to go into the hospital here. ‘I want to go back, though,’ he said, and he stated that he intended urging all his friends to enlist.”¹

Davidson was not the only Hamilton soldier to return to the city that morning. A. J. Brider was among the arrivals, along with three or four other soldiers:

“ ‘I am feeling pretty sick,’ Brider said when seen at his home at 13 Smith avenue. ‘I contracted muscular rheumatism from sleeping between damp sheets in the huts and this stopped me from going to the front. Although we had plenty to eat, our sleeping quarters were nearly always damp and the wind and weather blew in through chinks in the walls. They kept us there until most of us felt sick – if not physically, mentally – but when word came out that some we to go  to the front, all the boys were eager to be off, and I am sure they will make a showing against the Germans.’ ”

Unlike Alexander Davidson, A. J. Brider expressed no intention to return to duty across the ocean, saying that he only wanted to rest up and hopefully be rid of his rheumatism.

 

1915-04-09rr

“After a long sickness and a stay in a hospital in England, Alexander Davidson, 553 Barton street east, arrived in this city with several other soldiers.`

Hamilton Times.   April 9, 1915.

For Alexander Davidson , his experiences as a soldier overseas did not involve combat at the front:

``Davidson enlisted with the first contingent, and while at Salisbury Plain was taken ill.``¹

¹ “Soldiers Back from England Talk to Times : A Bunch of Canadian Soldiers Reached Hamilton This Morning.”

Hamilton Times.   April 9, 1915 .

For Davidson, like so many other Hamiltonians who had immediately enlisted during the excitement of August, 1914, he was sent off from the city amid huge cheering crowds at the train station. He then had undergone extensive training at Valcartier, Quebec and had endured the ocean crossing to get to England.

Upon disembarking the troop ship in England,  he and his fellow soldiers on that voyage were marched to Salisbury Plain for further training until they would be sent across the English Channel en route to the front.

While at Salisbury Plain, and just before he was to be sent to the trenches, Davidson became seriously ill with bronchial pneumonia:

``When spoken to this morning by a Times reporter, he was rather downcast over his inability to get to the front, and even now is in such condition that he will likely have to go to the hospital.

“ ‘The great trouble was the water and mud at Salisbury’ said Davison, and attributed his sickness to this. ‘When we were sleeping in tents, there was no sickness, but as soon as the huts were built, meningitis, pneumonia and rheumatism put in an appearance. This may have been caused by the manner in which the huts were built, as none of us were skilled carpenters, and in many of the huts, large chinks let in the wind and water. There is not much to say about the mud. I have read enough about that, but when I say it was often over our knees, you can understand our position.

“When asked about the food, Mr. Davidson said it was fine at Valcartier, but worse at Salisbury. ‘The jam we got at Salisbury was really funny,’ he said, ‘You did not know whether  you were eating jam or chop suey. Vegetables and egg shells were in that jam, and the meat was bad. There was trouble over it, and graft was charged, and latterly the food was greatly improved.”

“Davidson said that his throat was bad and that he intended to go into the hospital here. ‘I want to go back, though,’ he said, and he stated that he intended urging all his friends to enlist.”¹

Davidson was not the only Hamilton soldier to return to the city that morning. A. J. Brider was among the arrivals, along with three or four other soldiers:

“ ‘I am feeling pretty sick,’ Brider said when seen at his home at 13 Smith avenue. ‘I contracted muscular rheumatism from sleeping between damp sheets in the huts and this stopped me from going to the front. Although we had plenty to eat, our sleeping quarters were nearly always damp and the wind and weather blew in through chinks in the walls. They kept us there until most of us felt sick – if not physically, mentally – but when word came out that some we to go  to the front, all the boys were eager to be off, and I am sure they will make a showing against the Germans.’ ”

Unlike Alexander Davidson, A. J. Brider expressed no intention to return to duty across the ocean, saying that he only wanted to rest up and hopefully be rid of his rheumatism.

 

1915-03-31ww

“The Spectator is in receipt of a letter from ‘A Soldier’s Wife,’ whose husband tells of the needs of the men in the trenches, and she asks that it be given prominence in the hope that it will stimulate giving to the Hamilton Active Service Emergency fund, the proceeds of which will be used to purchasew comforts for the soldiers.”

Hamilton Spectator.   March 31, 1915.

By the end of March, 1915, there had been several fund-raising drives resulting from the outbreak of war the previous August.

Most were well-supported by Hamiltonians, but the fund to provide comforts for soldiers at the front lagged. The “comforts” were not luxury items but things that the normal budget of the military did not provide, for example cigarettes..

In an effort to spur donations, an unidentified Hamilton woman forwarded to the Spectator the following extract from a letter she had recently received from her husband on service in France:

“People at home don’t realize what this war is. Fancy standing in trenches up to your knees in slush, shells and shrapnel bursting every minute, and the rattle of machine guns a constant sound . Ah! it makes your heart bleed – hundreds of young men killed or maimed for life, legs off, arms gone, eyes blown out, faces torn away, many mangled beyond description.

“Oh, please, tell the good people you know that if ever they are asked for funds for the troops, to give every cent they can. God knows they need and deserve it.

“Trainload after trainload of wounded.

“Still, we must fight. It must be victory or death.”¹

¹ “Another Call from Trenches for Comforts”

Hamilton Spectator.   March 31, 1915.

Another portion of a letter home was also reprinted in the same issue. This one was from Pte. William White, “a Ninety-First man” :

“Mother, do all you can for the soldiers in the way of knitting, for, believe me, they need it. In the trenches at night, it is very cold.”¹

After quoting from the two letters, the Spectator reporter strongly urged his readers to respond to the call:

“Appeals like these are constantly coming in from the men who stand in the path of the stinging bullets, and yet there are a lot of people in Hamilton who apparently have not given a thought to the local fund, to say nothing of a dollar.”¹

 

1915-03-30oo

As the month of March, 1915 was drawing to a close, many Hamiltonians were looking towards the bay and Lake Ontario looking for the ice to break up allowing navigation to resume.

There were vessels of many shapes and uses being preparing for the upcoming season, including the three large passenger steamers, the Maccassa, the Modjeska and the Turbinia, which provided service between Hamilton and Toronto:

“As soon as the ice has cleared out of the bay, the Macassa will steam through the piers from Toronto and open navigation in Hamilton harbor. This good boat has wintered in Toronto, steam has been up for the last week, and Captain James Henderson is ready for the first voyage of the year

“Percy Grant, manager of the Canadian Steamship Lines here stated this morning that the Turbinia and Modjeska had been in dock here all winter, that both were in first class shape but would not leave until later in the season. “¹

¹ “Vessel Men Look For a Good Season”

Hamilton Times.    March 30, 1915.

As well as the three large steamers on the Toronto-Hamilton service route, another large steamer ran out of Hamilton:

“The Belleville will start her weekly trips to Montreal as soon as the weather gets a little warmer. She has also wintered here. Many new improvements have been made on her to add to the comfort of those who take in that ideal trip down the St. Lawrence.”¹

As well as passenger steamers, two freighters spent the winter at the waterfront :

“Two freighters are being overhauled and cargoed, the Canadian and the Wahcondah. Mr. Grant, when questioned about the possibilities of a good season, was very optimistic. He did not fear a decrease in business.”¹

As well as the freight and passenger business involving large scale vessels, Hamilton was also the home of boat builders manufacturing smaller boats:

“Small craft building has been going on just the same, and the boat house keepers predict a busy year on the bay and along the lake shore.

“George Askew reported this morning the west end of the bay is entirely free of ice, and that it is rapidly moving out of the east end. The water is the lowest it has been in sixteen years.”¹

On March 30, 1915, conditions along the Beach Strip facing Lake Ontario were still less than ideal even though spring had arrived on the calendar:

“Beach residents are sustaining a lot of damage, particularly in the vicinity of the Brant House. Yesterday, a high wind drove the ice up on the shore, and swept away many boat houses.”¹

 

 

 

1915-05-13aa

“The anti-Teutonic feeling that is spreading throughout the country as a result of the slaughter by the German navy of the Lusitania passengers has reached Hamilton’s City Hall in a most vigorous form, and definite steps to deal with all German employees will shortly be considered.”

Hamilton Times.    May 13, 1915.

Max Anderson, of the Board of Works, had been assigned the task of prepare a statement showing the nationality, age, etc. of all the workers in the City of Hamilton’s employ, and have that document prepared for the May 18, 1915 meeting of the Board of Control.

As Anderson began his task, he told a reporter from the Hamilton Times that he was aware of two City employees who made no secret that they had been born in Germany, but he speculated that there were a large number of staff with German ancestry who had declared their nationality as Canadian.

One city department head made some very strong statements to the reporter :

“He claimed that not only all unnaturalized Germans, whether born in the Fatherland or of parents elsewhere, but all who have taken out papers during the last ten years should be called on to register, so that, if anything did happen, the police and the Government would have something to go on.

“ ‘I am given to  understand that there is a decided mental reservation in the oath taken by Germans seeking naturalization,’ he added, ‘They are allowed by the authorities at home to become naturalized, but on condition that their feeling to the Fatherland is not influenced. I am convinced that there are a large number of travelers going through the United States and Canada, supposedly acting for business firms, who are working under authority of the German government. In times like this we cannot be too careful. Of course, a line would have to be drawn somewhere, for there are men of German descent in this city who are as loyal as British born to King George and Empire. I do not speak of these, of course.’ ”¹

¹ “Anti-German Feeling is in the City Hall : Strong Disposition to Make Sure Against Possible Teutonic Sympathizers.”

Hamilton Times.   May 13, 1915.

In some of the east Hamilton factories there were on-going suspicions that many of the employees engaged in supplying munitions had distinctly pro-German feelings. It had been noticed that one shipment of ammunition about to be sent to the front had been rejected after being inefficiently prepared by a naturalized German worker.

In the same May 13, 1915 issue of the Hamilton Times, a lengthy editorial was carried regarding the subject of German citizens in the climate of the day:

“The sinking of the Lusitania has had its effect of public opinion in Canada, and in some places there has been more or less rioting. There is no denying the fact that  since the Ypres battle, when so many Canadians feel, and since the sinking of the British steamer, the feeling in Canada towards the Germans has undergone a change.

“The ‘maffiking’ in Montreal and Vancouver by Germans over these events have made a deep impression on the Canadian mind, with the result that suspicion and anger have been aroused. There is no doubt that when the Germans sent the Lusitania to the bottom of the sea they did the worst thing they could have done for themselves – a deed that will forever blacken the reputation of that nation.

“In Hamilton, we are glad to say, nothing has happened except the voluntary closing of the Germania Club, for the time being. Our German fellow-citizens have always been looked upon as being among our best citizens, industrious, orderly and energetic, and we have no reason to believe that the war has changed them. We do not expect that they have lost their love and respect for the home of their forefathers.

“Most of them are naturalized British subject, and as such we expect them to be loyal to the British Crown. There are also many unnaturalized Germans in the city, and they stand upon a different footing. They may not be expected to be loyal to the country of their residence, and it will be the duty of the authorities to see that they do not in any way outrage the hospitality they are the recipients of, and the citizens can help the authorities in this matter. Those born in Canada of German parents, we look upon as Canadians, and expect them to be Canadians in every respect.

“Nothing should be done that the safety and peace of the country does not require. Should we do more, we would be merely following in the steps of the Germans.”²

² “Anti-German Agitation”

Hamilton Times.   May 13, 1915.

 

 

1915-05-11oo

“Attention was called today to the fact that, although Hamilton has the third largest German population of any city in the country, no provision has been made here for registration.”

Hamilton Spectator.   May 11, 1915.

Ever since the outbreak of war the previous August, people of German heritage in Hamilton were looked on with suspicion and hostility.

The situation became significantly worse in the aftermath of the sinking of the Lusitania.

The previous October the federal government had decided that aliens living in Canada, whose native countries were at war with Britain, would have to register so that they could be accounted for at all times.

The Order in Council read as follows :

“Every alien of enemy nationality, residing within any of the cities, towns or places designated, or within twenty miles of such places, shall attend before the registrar and answer such questions with regard to his nationality, age, residence, occupation, intention or desire to leave Canada, destination, liability and intention as to military service, and otherwise, as may be lawfully put to him by the registrar.”

The city of Hamilton, according to the previous had 4,923 residents of German nationality, and it was estimated that another 1,000 unnaturalized Germans were living in Hamilton, most of whom would not have been included in the census count.

For reasons not stated, the government of Canada, by May 1915, had yet to set a local office in Hamilton at which aliens could be registered. The Hamilton Police department had prepared a list of unnaturalized Germans in the city, and those people were under surveillance.

On May 11, 1915, August Barghart and Max Frank, living at a boarding house, 18 Market street, were abruptly taken into custody by Detectives Goodman and Cameron of the Hamilton Police department.

Both men were rumored to have displayed animosity toward British subjects on several occasions.

When the detectives called, a search was made of their rooms. A bundle of documents, printed in German, was found in their possession:

“ ‘The men were arrested solely on suspicion,’ said the deputy-chief at noon today, ‘We think those German documents might be important, and that the men were remanded so that we would have time to have the papers interpreted. Complaints were made to us about them, and we had the power to intern them, because they were not naturalized.’ ”¹

¹ “Two Germans Are Held By Police : Had Documents Which May Be Important”

Hamilton Spectator.   May 12, 1914.

The anti-German suspicion and hostility came to a violent head at an east end plant where several English employees and three German employees got into an argument over the sinking of the Lusitania:

“The German element was inclined to the method of ‘Served you right,,’ and this the Britishers resented with such good effect that two of the Germans had to be taken to the hospital. The police were called but made no arrests. The Germans who spoke in favor of their country’s horrible act subsequently lost their positions.”¹

¹ “Allies Won : Battered Germans Who Upheld Their Country’s Atrocities”

Hamilton Times.           May 12, 1915.

The following day, May 13, 1915, the Spectator began its coverage of trouble between British and German laborers in city factories as follows :

“Ever since the sinking of the Lusitania, and the bitter resentment that followed the murderous slaughter of innocent people, there have been persistent reports here of trouble between workmen of German descent and British and Canadian employees.”²

² “Germans Are Haled Before Police Heads : Summoned When Reports Are received About Them”

Hamilton Spectator.   May 13, 1915.

Hamilton’s Deputy Police Chief Whatley was interviewed on the situation concerning Germans in the city :

“ ‘We are more than on the alert to get track of any alien enemy when there is genuine cause,’ explained the deputy, ‘but at the same time we must be fair and remember that there are many people here of German descent, who have lived in Hamilton many years and are good citizens.’

“The deputy further explained that while no registration office was opened here, the police were looking after this, acting under orders from Ottawa. It was learned that since the outbreak of the war the police have summoned a number of people to headquarters and called upon them to sign the official undertaking, provided for in the government proclamation.

“The local authorities have been acting in conjunction with the large employers of labor in the east end and claim in this way to have been able to keep a fairly close check on unnaturalized Germans.”²

In that same issue of the Spectator, a letter was published from a Hamiltonian of German descent:

“To the Editor : Could you allow me a small space in your reliable paper to express my disgust at being a German?

“I used to be a loyal subject of the Kaiser, but the revolting atrocities committed by my countrymen both on land and sea have so appalled that I now detest everything German,

“The vile and savage crews attached to the German submarines are, as I personally know, the scum and dross of the tottering German empire, and I again repeat that I am ashamed to be German. My countrymen are not an honest, open foe, but cowards, whose atrocities have shocked the civilized world.

“The awful slaughter and massacre of the innocents must be stopped. These lawless murderers of defenseless women and children should have a check put on them.

“May the gallant and noble tars and soldiers of England, who have ever fought a clean and glorious fight, and who never wage war against women and children, but go to meet their foes like men, find a way to catch these crafty, vile savages and destroy them like vermin, for murderers of little children are murderers of the worst type, and may success come to the British arms.

“With contrition and regret for being a German, I sign myself, CARL STAHL”³

³ “Ashamed to Be German.”

Hamilton Spectator.   May 13, 1915.

 

 

1915-05-11ja

“The Germania Club, 17 Main street east, an old and highly respectable club, closed its doors to its members last evening, and they will not swing open again during the war.”

Hamilton Times.   May 11, 1915.

In the days after the sinking of the Lusitania by a German submarine, anti-German feelings were high.

Hamilton Deputy Police Chief summoned the managers and board members of Hamilton’s Germania Club during the evening of May 10, 1915 for a meeting at the police station. While the meeting was amicable, Whatley’s message was unequivocal. He told the gathering that anti-German feelings were inflamed and he received demands that the Germania club be shut down immediately. A request was made that the club close voluntarily, noting that if the request was refused, the government would be petitioned to take away the club’s license.

It only took a moment for the club officials to decide that closing for the duration of the war would be advisable.

The Germania club, while controlled and owned primarily by German citizens was not frequented exclusively by Germans. Many Hamilton men who did not trace any German ancestry whatsoever in their genealogy were members in good standing. The club served lunches and suppers all year round, and the only alcohol sold was beer.  

Max Mueller, treasurer of the Germania Club was interviewed concerning the abrupt closure  by a reporter from the Hamilton Times:

“ ‘We closed because we considered it in the best interests of all concerned that we should,’ said Mr. Mueller, who resides at 55 Catharine street south, when speaking of the matter to the Times this morning. ’We want to show that we have no animosity toward the British and their allies. In fact, many of us are good Britishers. But we wanted to avoid all possible trouble or suspicion. As far as financial loss occasioned by closing the club, the officers will have to bear that. It is not our intention to open the doors for any purpose whatever until after the war.’ ”¹

¹ “Germania Club has voluntarily Closed”

Hamilton Times.   May 11, 1915.

The Spectator reporter assigned to cover the Germania Club closing story managed to obtain an interview with George Schnabel of the Spring Brewery company who was president of the club :

“ ‘Notwithstanding the strong and, I realize, warranted feeling against the Kaiser, I wish to say that there are no more loyal citizens of Britain than the members of the Germania,’ declared Mr. Schnabel. ‘In deference to the will of the people and to further prove our loyalty to the cause of England, we decided last night to close the club up for the present. Other actions of an even more drastic nature will shortly be taken to prove to the citizens of this city that the members of the Germania club are not in sympathy with the Kaiser in this deplorable war.

“ ‘It is only natural to assume that the heart of every man always beats for his native country, but it does not follow that he must condone, sympathize with or sanction policies or principles such as has been adopted by the Kaiser in the present war, or that the Germans of this country are in sympathy with the German cause. I, for one, am in direct opposition to the cause of Germany in this war, and has been a citizen of Canada for thirty-ne years, too long to remain a German, and my son is a member of the Ninety-First Highlanders of this city. Out of our membership of four hundred in the Germania club, only about one hundred are Germans , the balance being English-speaking people. In our total membership, we have only two Germans who are not naturalized citizens, and every member of the club is true and loyal to Canada and her interests.

“ ‘We Germans of Hamilton, perhaps more than any other class of people, regret the sinking of the Lusitania, as we realize that such unwarranted action on the part of the German arms only tends to intensify the feelings of Canadians against us. Of the four thousand Germans or people of German descent in Hamilton at the present time, I would say that at least three thousand are naturalized citizens.’ ”²

² “Germania Club Closed Until After War : President Insists Local Germans Are Loyal”

Hamilton Spectator. May 11, 1915.

As events would unfold in subsequent days, it would prove that a wise decision was made to close Hamilton’s Germania Club  at that time.