The Intelligencer May 13, 1918 (page 1)
“Farmers Will Make Protest Against The Military Call.
Marmora Township. A meeting of the yeomen of Marmora Township for the purpose of considering the advisability of sending representatives to join the delegation which will go to Ottawa to wait on the Minister of Agriculture, and other members of the Government to present the needs of the farmer, particularly in regard to farm labor.
Some present were opposed to sending a deputation to Ottawa, but it was decided to do so and Messrs. E. E. Laycock, Reeve of the Township and Oliver Airhart were appointed delegates and it was unanimously decided to ask the Council of the Municipality to pay expenses.
Tyendinaga Farmers. A meeting of the farmers of Tyendinaga was held in the Melrose Town Hall on Friday evening, the 11th inst. to discuss matters relating to the farm labor situation. The meeting was a great success, about thirty-five being present. At the end of the meeting four delegates were appointed to represent the township at Ottawa along with the delegates from other townships who are to appear before the Government on the 14th of May, to appeal against the decision at which the Government has arrived, and in order to get some of the necessary help to remain on the farms.
The delegates appointed were Messrs. Peter McLaren, Deputy Reeve, Dennis Hanley, ex-warden, Geo. Lazier and Fred Robinson. They will leave for Ottawa on Monday, at two o’clock via C.N.R.”
The Intelligencer May 13, 1918 (page 1)
“Canadian Factories Are Humming Night And Day. From Coast to Coast Canada Is Humming With Industry—Work For Everybody And Skilled Workers Scarce—High Cost Of Living Only Fly In The Ointment.
Belleville plant of Canada Steel Co. is running day and night shifts. …
Canada Cement’s Belleville plant is busy. …
Pulp and paper mills are working at capacity. …
Need for skilled caulkers is so great in British Columbia that one Victoria shipyard has established a school to teach the trade. …
Shortage of materials is hampering knitting mills.”
The Intelligencer May 13, 1918 (page 3)
“Soldiers Delighted With Gifts From Belleville. The report of the Canadian Red Cross Society, Belleville Cheese Board District Branch, for April, is as follows: The following letters, with others have been received recently, gratefully acknowledging boxes sent by the branch of the C. R. C. S.:
No. 13 Can. General Hospital, Hastings, England.
‘Please accept our grateful thanks for boxes from your Society containing bed socks and pyjamas. They came at a time when we were needing pyjamas badly. I wish I could tell you just how much all these gifts from home mean to us. I would hate to think of trying to “carry on” without them. Please convey my thanks to the members of the Belleville Cheese Board District, Canadian Red Cross Society. Sincerely yours, (Sgd.) A. C. Strong, Matron.’
No. 3 Can. Gen. Hospital, (McGill). Boulogne, France.
‘Some cases of hospital supplies, which you were good enough to ship to the officer commanding this unit, have been placed in my hands for distribution amongst the patients. On their behalf and on behalf of the unit, I wish to thank your Society very much indeed for the very suitable and beautifully made assortment of articles in these boxes. To have these extras added to the regular issue from Ordnance, just makes the difference in many instances between actual necessities for the wounded, and their comfort.
The nursing sisters and I always wish the wounded men who are going through to hospital ship from this unit to go as comfortable and well clad as possible, and although we can draw from Ordnance many things, yet there are often lacking little things such as your Society has sent to us.
I am grateful to you for mentioning my name in connection with the boxes and I beg to extend to the members of your Society our very sincere thanks for the gifts which you keep sending from time to time. With renewed thanks, Yours very sincerely, (Sgd.) K. O. MacLatchy, Matron, P.A.M.C.’ ”
The Intelligencer May 13, 1918 (page 5)
“Soldiers of the Soil. The boys of Belleville have responded nobly to the call for help on the farms. Almost all of the older boys in attendance at the local High School and a number of older boys from the Public Schools have gone out to the farms in this vicinity. At least fifty boys from Belleville are now tilling the soil, helping in the movement for greater production. A number of other boys will go out at the end of the school term. Every available man and boy will be needed to help with the crops this year, especially as the need for men overseas is so great that a number of farmers will be pressed into the military service.
The Ontario Government has asked the Boys’ Department of the National Y.M.C.A. to supervise the boys who go on the farms and the secretaries are being enlisted in this work for the summer. Each man is given a number of counties to look after and a Ford car as a means of transportation. It is the duties of these men to see that the boys get proper consideration and also that they give proper service. They will also distribute the National Badge of Honor which is given by the Canada Food Board to every boy and girl from 13 to 19 years who serves off the land, or in a cheese or butter factory.
The Ontario Educational Department cooperates in this movement by allowing all pupils who passed the prescribed test at Easter time their school standing for the term. Mr. P. F. Brockel, secretary of the local Y.M.C.A. has been asked to become the supervisor for this district, covering the counties of Northumberland, Victoria, Peterborough and Haliburton. Mr. H. W. Kingerly, who supervised this district last year, is now overseas serving with the Canadian army as a Y.M.C.A. officer.”
The Intelligencer May 13, 1918 (page 5)
“Lieut. E. A. Geen. The announcement that Lieut. E. A. Geen has been appointed Collector of Customs at Belleville in succession to the late Mr. Arthur McGinnis, will be received with pleasure by Lieut. Geen’s many friends and the citizens generally, the appointee being particularly well qualified to fill the position and having a gentle and courteous disposition which is always a valuable asset in the public service.
Lieut. Geen went overseas as a private with the fighting 21st Battalion, which has such a gallant service record and served in the trenches in France, winning his promotion to a Lieutenancy upon the field of battle. He was later transferred to special duty in England, and later returned to Canada.
The appointment of Lieut. Geen to this important position is in accord with the policy of Mr. Porter, Member of Parliament for West Hastings, to fill all offices as far as possible, with returned soldiers.
It is said that Mr. Porter had to fight hard against strong opposition to have this appointment conform to his wishes. The strong influences now exerted at Ottawa in favor of all appointments coming through the Civil Service had other plans for the Belleville Customs office than the appointment of a returned soldier but Mr. Porter won his point eventually, and the appointment of Lieut. Geen was officially announced today.
The new Collector of Customs is the son of Rev. A. L. Geen of Belleville, and although a young man in years is fully qualified to fill the office, having been connected with the Customs Service before the war and also having had considerable experience in the banking business. He was born and brought up in Belleville.”
The Intelligencer May 13, 1918 (page 6)
“Casualties Among Canadian Troops. Killed. Ivanhoe—J. F. Rollins.
Died of Wounds. Stirling—C. L. Bird; Madoc—H. Phillips; Queensboro—R. Alexander.
Wounded. Belleville—W. N. Casselman; Hermon—J. S. Adams; Tweed—M. J. Woodcock; Bancroft—B. Vader.”
[Note: Private James Flemming Rollins died on April 27, 1918. He is commemorated on Page 494 of the First World War Book of Remembrance.]
[Note: Private Clement Lockard Bird died on April 28, 1918. He is commemorated on Page 368 of the First World War Book of Remembrance.]
[Note: Private Herbert Phillips died on April 27, 1918. He is commemorated on Page 485 of the First World War Book of Remembrance.]
[Note: Private Robert Alexander died on April 21, 1918. He is commemorated on Page 358 of the First World War Book of Remembrance.]
The Intelligencer May 13, 1918 (page 6)
“Belleville Soldier Died In Italy. Mrs. C. Hilton has received a letter from the Chaplain of the Battalion her late soldier husband was connected with. Pte. Hilton died in Italy of wounds received in action.
The letter is as follows: 3 Canadian Italy Hospital, April 18, 1918. Dear Mrs. Hilton,—It is with deep sorrow that I write to you re the passing away of your dear husband, Pte. C. Hilton who was brought to this hospital very seriously wounded on the night of the 16th and died at midday on the 17th. His wound was a shrapnel one in the arm and leg. He did not suffer much, as he was unconscious. He gave all he had—his life and I know he has gone to his reward. We laid his body to rest in the military Cemetery, Doullens, with all military honour and respect. May God comfort you in your great sorrow. I am, in deep sympathy, Sincerely yours, G. H. Andrews, Chaplain.”
[Note: Private Charles Hilton died on April 17, 1918. He is commemorated on Page 429 of the First World War Book of Remembrance.]
The Intelligencer May 13, 1918 (page 6)
“Extensive Preparation For 3rd Of June Demonstration. The greatest demonstration that Belleville has witnessed in many years is assured on June 3rd, if the plans of the Great War Veterans are carried out as they now stand. Horse races, a grand military carnival and many other special events that are to be announced in the near future are being arranged for. A special effort is being made to obtain some very exclusive features, which if successful, are sure to make the Veterans’ celebration a banner day in the history of Belleville. Watch the local papers for future announcements.”
First World War Belleville 