Fall 1914

Work began in mid- November to form a committee for the relief efforts in Belgium. Concerns over the contributions of the rural communities were paramount in a Waterloo Chronicle -Telegraph article. The Waterloo Chronicle reported on the ‘liberal’ responses by local farmers to produce food for the relief efforts. Local representatives of the Belgian Relief Fund reported that Huron County and Grey County already shipped 33 and 50 carloads of food to Belgium. The committee in Waterloo region was to assess what type of contribution the region could send.

(“Belgian Relief Fund,” Waterloo Chronicle-Telegraph, 19 November 1914)

The Waterloo town council became increasingly concerned about the role of local farmers as contributors to the war effort. Not only were there questions posed regarding the lack of manpower to bring in the harvests due to volunteerism but also the role the rural areas would have in supporting the Funds being raised for the war effort.

On 19 November, the Waterloo Chronicle-Telegraph announced that the local farmers were willing to collaborate to raise monetary support for the Patriotic Fund and Belgian Relief Fund. Farmers committed to join the Patriotic Fund as a sign of good faith for the war effort. This commitment demonstrated that rural areas of the Waterloo Region would also to be heavily involved in the donation and industrial phase of the war effort.

(“To the Men of the Village of Ayr,” Waterloo Chronicle-Telegraph, 19 November 1914)

The Breithaupts, a prominent local family, contributed immensely to the war effort. Not only did the household insure the volunteers from Berlin, but they also manufactured goods for British servicemen. Catharine Breithaupt, the 17 year-old family member, recorded the business details of the Breithaupt Tanning Company in her personal diary. On 5 November, she recorded that a total of 2,600 shirts were shipped to the Canadian Expeditionary Force in Britain. Three days later the company sent another 2,200 shirts. Their commitment to the war effort and filling their war contract orders proves that those of German background in the region were supportive of the Canadian cause.

(Breithaupt, Catherine Olive. 1914 Diary (Breithaupt Diary Collection, Rare Books Room at Dana Port Library, University of Waterloo), 25-28 November 1914.)

On 23 November, a meeting was held in Alexandra Hall for Hespeler residents. During this time C. H. Mills, the M.P.P. of Berlin, along with several colleagues, attempted to convince the town to create its own branch of the Patriotic Fund. Several addresses were made by the likes of Mayor Kribs, Mills, and local businessman Mr. Forbes. The meeting created an enthusiastic response and the Hespeler Herald pointed out, “Get ready to get busy.” Full details and an official launch date of the campaign were to take place a week later, in early December.

(“Hespeler to Organize Patriotic Fund,” Hespeler Herald, 26 November 1914)