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Germans in Canada (14 August 1914)  

By • On • In Politics, Summer 1914, Summer 1914,

On 14 August, the Hamilton Speculator published an article that defended the honour of Sir Adam Beck, which was reprinted in the Berlin Daily Telegraph. The article explained that although Beck was of German parentage he was thoroughly Canadian and a “thorough Briton.” The article stated that Beck was an example of the German population in the heart of Western Ontario, who all love the “land of their adoption” more than the land where their forefathers came from.

Not unexpectantly, the issue of how to regard German-Canadians was a question that was posed by regular citizens and even prominent politicians and businessmen. Beck was the Minister without Portfolio in Parliament from 1905 to 1914 and was a member of the Remount Committee of the Military Council of Canada, with the rank of Colonel. King George V knighted Beck in 1914 for his promotion of hydro-electricity in Ontario and Canada. Beck later built and expanded the Hydro-Electric Power Commission of Ontario, making him an important figure in Ontario and Canadian history. Despite his service to Ontario and Canada, there were still some who questioned his loyalty when war was declared against Germany. Clearly all German-Canadians would experience some type of scrutiny during the war.

(“Germans in Canada,” Berlin Daily Telegraph, 14 August 1914, “Sir Adam Beck Ready,” Berlin Daily Telegraph, 14 August 1914; http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/sir-adam-beck/)

Beck

 

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Berlin’s Volunteers Depart for the Front (17 August 1914)  

By • On • In Home Front, Summer 1914, Summer 1914'

On Monday 17 August, Berlin’s fourteen Volunteers, and the other 8 volunteers from the surrounding area, boarded a train headed first to Galt and then Ingersoll. The Berlin contingent was joining the rest of the 24th Infantry Regiment, with whom they would proceed to Valcartier on Wednesday 19 August. At Valcartier the men would be drilled for two weeks, after which 22,000 men would be selected and sent to the front in early September.

The Berlin men marched through Berlin, where between 600 and 800 locals bid them farewell. Many had tears in their eyes as they said goodbye to the men leaving for the front, knowing that this may be the last time that they see these men. “Rule Britannia” was sung as the men boarded the train car. These people gathered again on Tuesday to send off four young British reservists who had been residing in the Waterloo Region, when they too left for the front. Huge patriotic displays like this were typical across Canada; residents cheered for local men who went off to fight for the British Empire.

(“Berlin’s Volunteers Depart for the Front,” Waterloo Chronicle Telegraph, 20 August 1914, “Reservists for the Front” Waterloo Chronicle-Telegraph, 20 August 1914; “Berlin Boys Appreciated Send-off,” Waterloo Chronicle Telegraph, 27 August 1914; Photo Origin: London Free Press, 20 August 1914.)

Berlin's Volunteers Depart

This picture shows the type of mass crowds that gathered to see the volunteers depart for Valcartier in August 1914.

 

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Special Parliament Session Opened (18 August 1914)  

By • On • In Politics, Summer 1914, Summer 1914,

Parliament convened on 18 August to discuss the war and the type of aid that Canada would provide to Great Britain. This was Canada’s first war session in over a century. The parliament was devoid of politics, unified by their desire to help Great Britain. It was hoped that this truce would be maintained during the entire session so that deliberations would be quick.

Both Sir Wilfrid Laurier, leader of the opposition, and Prime Minister Borden addressed the topic of German-Canadians during this parliamentary session. The two leaders stated that German-Canadian citizens were “certainly amongst our best citizens” and that they had proven their loyalty to Canada and the British Empire. The Waterloo Chronicle-Telegraph and the Elmira Signet reprinted Laurier’s Speech, while the Waterloo Chronicle-Telegraph included a section of Borden’s speech as well. The two newspapers did not reprint the two leaders’ entire speeches, but instead only printed the sections referring to German Canadians. This demonstrates how important these statements about German-Canadians’ loyalty to Canada were for all the citizens in Waterloo Region.

(“Parliament and the War,” Waterloo Chronicle Telegraph, 20 August 1914; “Canadian Parliament Opened,” Elmira Signet, 20 August 1914; “Sir Wilfrid Laurier in the House of Commons,” Elmira Signet, 27 August 1914; “Tributes Paid to German Canadians,” Waterloo Chronicle-Telegraph, 27 August 1914;  Sir R.L. Borden in Opening the Special Session of the Dominion Parliament,” Elmira Signet, 27 August 1914; R. Borden, “Canada at War” (speech, Ottawa, ON, 18 August 1914), Wartime Canada, http://www.wartimecanada.ca/sites/default/files/documents/CanadaAtWar.Aug_.1914.pdf)

Special Parliament Session

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Kitchener’s Advice to Soldiers (19 August 1914)  

By • On • In Home Front, Summer 1914, Summer 1914'

On 20 August, the Waterloo Chronicle Telegraph reprinted an article that contained an advice pamphlet written by Lord Kitchener to soldiers in the British Expeditionary Force (BEF). This advice was directed to all soldiers, and was to be carried in each soldier’s active service pay book. Kitchener emphasized one’s duty to serve with honour, discipline and steadiness, and most of all to “do your duty bravely, fear God and honour the King.” Kitchener’s expectations for the BEF were also his expectations for colonial forces, including the Canadian Contingent set to arrive in the fall.

(“Advice to Soldiers,” Waterloo Chronicle Telegraph, 20 August 1914)

Advice to Soldiers

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Canadian Volunteers Mobilize (19 August 1914)  

By • On • In Home Front, Summer 1914, Summer 1914'

On 18 August, The Minister of Militia announced that commanding officers throughout Canada were to mobilize the following morning. On the morning of 19 August, troops across Canada began making their way to Valcartier. It was also announced that a total of 22,218 men would be selected, from the 25,000 men who would soon arrive at Valcartier, for the Canadian Expeditionary Force. A detailed list of what personnel would compose the 22,218 can be seen in the article published in the Waterloo Chronicle Telegraph here.

(“To Mobilize Tomorrow,” Waterloo Chronicle Telegraph, 20 August 1914)

Canadian Volunteers Mobilize

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Explanation of Military Terms (20 August 1914)  

By • On • In Home Front, Summer 1914, Summer 1914'

With recruitment ended and troops from across Canada making their way to Valcartier for training, it became evident that Canadians needed to understand the various military terms that would be used in war news articles. Here you can see a list of definitions that the Waterloo Chronicle Telegraph provided their readership with on 20 August 1914.

In addition to explaining military terms, local newspapers also explained the time differences between all of the belligerent countries. This was important, as not every country worldwide had adopted standard time by the outbreak of the war; some areas were still using ‘local time.’ By explaining what time it was in places like Paris, London, St. Petersburg, Vienna, Belgrade, Rome and Berlin, the region’s residents were better informed of time differences across the globe and across the areas involved in the war.

(“Explanation of Militia Terms” Waterloo Chronicle-Telegraph, 20 August 1914; “War News,” Elmira Signet, 13 August 1914.)

Militia Terms

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Canadian National Exhibition (20 August 1914)

By • On • In German-Canadian Identity, Summer 1914, Summer 1914 -

Despite Canada’s preoccupation with the war effort and the mobilization of troops at Valcartier, Canadian culture continued to thrive. Although it was suggested that the Canadian National Exhibition might be cancelled due to the war, the Exhibition was held as planned in Toronto at Exhibition Place. It concluded on Labour Day (7 September) after running for eighteen days. The Exhibition included big attractions such as the Water Carnival featuring the ‘Indian’ canoe races, celebrations for one hundred years of peace with the United States through song, and a performance called ‘Babylon’ that featured over a thousand performers. The large fair provided an entertaining distraction from the European war for thousands of Canadians.

(“Nothing Can Stop It!,” Hespeler Herald, 20 August 1914; Visual: http://torontoist.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/2011_08_27_f1244_it0877_6401.jpg)

2011_08_27_f1244_it0877_6401

 

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Factories will be Busy (20 August 1914)  

By • On • In Economics, Summer 1914, Summer 1914.

Waterloo Region understood that the war would greatly benefit Canada’s economy, the Elmira Signet going as far as to say “one continent’s ‘down’ is another continent’s ‘up.’” Waterloo region’s factories plunged into wartime production almost immediately. Multiple Berlin and Waterloo industries received large orders from the Militia Department. Trunk companies, leather companies, boot and shoe firms, textile manufacturers and rubber companies in the region were among the many who received contracts across Quebec and Ontario.

An order for 7000 sets of Oliver equipment, 2000 rifle buckets and 5000 rifle slings were divided between the McBrine Company, the Berlin Trunk and Bag Company, and the Duering Trunk Company. Additionally, five boot and shoe companies in the Waterloo Region were to produce 20,000 pairs of shoes, while another company was to produce 10,000 service shirts. These orders needed to be filled within five weeks to secure a second contract with the Militia Department. By mid-August, the already bustling industries in the Waterloo Region were further stimulated by wartime demands.

(“The Outlook in Canada,” Elmira Signet, 27 August 1914; “Factories will be busy,” Waterloo Chronicle-Telegraph, 20 August 1914; “Industry Hysteria,” Waterloo Chronicle-Telegraph, 27 August 1914; “Factories will be busy,” Waterloo Chronicle-Telegraph, 20 August 1914; “Cannot buy German goods,” Berlin Daily Telegraph, 11 August 1914.)

Busy Factories

 

 

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Full Company From Galt (22 August 1914)  

By • On • In Home Front, Summer 1914, Summer 1914'

Galt, Ontario sent almost a full company of the 29th Highland Light Infantry to Valcartier. On 21 August, 115 men in total left from Galt. The company was composed of 30 men from Preston, two or three from Hespeler, and over eighty from Galt. The large number of men who enlisted from this area stirred the patriotism of the Waterloo Region.

When the men left, approximately 12,000 people from all over Waterloo Region, but especially from Hespeler, Galt and Preston, gathered to give the boys a proper send off. .Such large gatherings were characteristic for the departure of volunteers across Ontario. Each of the Waterloo Region men were given pocket knives as souvenirs. As the men marched through Galt, the Preston Silver Band and the regimental brass and pipe band, and other bands played.

(“Going to the Front,” Hespeler Herald, 20 August 1914; “Full Company Goes From Galt,” Waterloo Chronicle Telegraph, 27 August 1914; “115 Start From Galt,” Waterloo Chronicle Telegraph, 27 August 1914; “Volunteers Leave Galt,” Hespeler Herald, 27 August 1914.)

 

Full Company From Galt

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Parliament Session Closed (22 August 1914)  

By • On • In Politics, Summer 1914, Summer 1914,

Parliament opened on Tuesday 18 August and closed on Saturday 22 August. This was the briefest Parliamentary session in Canadian history. The five-day session included legislative work for the fiscal changes, including laws regulating banking and currency, which would handle the wartime conditions. Parliament also passed the War Measures Act on 22 August. The Act stated that war had existed since 4 August, and outlined the special powers the Governor-in-Council would take on during the war. This act gave the Canadian Government the means to deal with the war with authority and power. The entire session was carried out smoothly; most of the proceedings were carried out almost unanimously because there was no party strife. This parliament session had record-breaking attendance. Every part of the Dominion, in the Senate and Commons, were largely represented. Canada, as a whole, wanted to help ensure that Canada was prepared as possible to help Great Britain during the war. But would they be able to maintain this unanimity as the war progressed?

(“Canadian Parliament Opened,” Elmira Signet, 20 August 1914; “Parliament Session Closed,” Elmira Signet, 27 August 1914; Canada, Parliament, An Act to confer certain powers upon the Governor in Council and to amend the Immigration Act (Ottawa, ON), 22 August 1914 (http://eco.canadiana.ca/view/oocihm.9_08039/2?r=0&s=1))

 

 

Parliament Session Closed (22 August 1914)