100 Years Ago: Father of Leo Ross Takes His Place, Khaki Club Night

The Intelligencer March 2, 1916 (page 1)

“Father Takes Son’s Place. Mr. James Ross of this city, went to Brockville this week and made application for enlistment with the 59th Battalion, with the result that he was accepted for overseas service.

Mr. Ross is the father of Gunner Leo Ross, who left Belleville with the 34th Battery and whose life was sacrificed in France. The father since his son’s death has had an ardent desire to take his place at the front, and now he has the opportunity to do so.”

The Intelligencer March 2, 1916 (page 7)

“Khaki Club Night. Wednesday night usually finds most of the soldiers of the two battalions at the Khaki Club and last night was no exception. From about eight o’clock on there was a continual procession of men in and out of the club, and it was well they kept moving or the place would not have held them all.

The helper who had charge of the programme last evening was unable to arrange one, but that does not mean they did not have one, for that is not the way the Khaki Club does business. It was only a few hours till some one volunteered on short notice to see that a pleasant evening was provided. It was in the hands of Miss Milburn and Miss Phyllis Bogert. Though they faced the problem of providing a whole evening’s entertainment there was not a dull moment in it. Each sang a number of popular solos and played, while the men sang innumerable choruses.

Though still less informal than the pleasantly informal evenings always given, it was one of the best yet. It’s an ill wind that blows nobody any good. At ten o’clock the refreshments were served and as happens very often the men on guard were remembered and each was sent his share of good things.”