After one month of intense training at Valcartier, Quebec, Canada’s first contingent set sail for England on 24 September from Quebec. British steamers transported the soldiers across the Atlantic Ocean to Britain. The soldiers were to land in Liverpool, England, for their final training. The Hespeler Herald assured its readers that a heavy escort of British cruisers and torpedo boats, to protect the Canadian units on their voyage, accompanied the troops. Units containing men from Waterloo Region were shipped over on the ship “Laurentic,” on the Sunday 27 September 1914.
(“Canadians Have Sailed,“ Hespeler Herald, 1 October 1914)
