The Intelligencer August 30, 1916 (page 2)

“Wearing of Uniforms by Unauthorized Persons. It is published for the information of all concerned that the following order and Regulation is made at the Government House at Ottawa, dated August 15th, 1916:—

‘If any unauthorized person wears any Naval or Military uniform or any uniform so nearly resembling any such uniform as to be calculated to deceive or if any person without lawful authority supplies a Naval or Military uniform to any person not being a member of His Majesty’s Forces or of the Canadian Militia, or if any person without authority or right wears a Naval or Military decoration or medal, he is guilty of an offence under the Criminal Code, to a penalty not exceeding $50.00, and in default of payment of the said penalty is liable to imprisonment for a term not exceeding three months.’ ”

The Intelligencer August 30, 1916 (page 2)

“Pte. James Clarke. Under auspices of the Sons of England Society and a military escort the funeral of the late Private James Clarke took place yesterday afternoon and was largely attended. At the family residence McDonald St. College Hill. Rev. Mr. Egan conducted the services and was assisted by Chaplain Capt. Dodds of the 155th Battalion. The latter officiated at the interment at the Belleville cemetery.

After the burial services of the Sons of England Society had been conducted at the grave, the firing party fired a volley and the last post was sounded by a bugler. The bearers were six comrades of the deceased, who are members of the 155th Battalion and also members of the S.O.E. Society. That deceased had many friends was evidenced by the numerous floral tributes which were beautiful in design.”

The Intelligencer August 30, 1916 (page 2)

“Lieut. Blaker of 80th Batt. Wounded. In yesterday’s Canadian Casualty list appeared the name of Lieut. Leo Baker of Cornwall, who was reported as wounded. It was Lieut. Blaker who was wounded, and he was well known to many in Belleville having been assistant Adjutant of the 80th Battalion and left with that Battalion for the front a few months ago.

How seriously his wounds are is not known. Lieut. Blaker was a most amiable officer and was much liked by all the members of the battalion.

Mrs. Blaker who has been residing in this city left today for England accompanied by her three children.”

The Intelligencer August 30, 1916 (page 5)

“Terms for the Nurses. The terms of service for 200 Canadian nurses asked for by the British War Office for service with the Queen Alexandra Imperial Military Nursing Service are: ‘One year, renewable or for duration of war. Pay: sister, £50; staff nurse, £40 per annum board, washing, one guinea abroad, fifteen shillings in United Kingdon; uniform £9 abroad, £8 at home.

Passage will be provided to and from Canada to destination and return passage except engagement terminates voluntarily by resignation or for misconduct.’

Everything necessary will be provided upon arrival in England. As the sisters will travel in mufti to England it is necessary to obtain passes from the Department of External Affairs. The nurses are for service in the Q.A.I.M.N.S. and not with the C.E.F.”

The Intelligencer August 29, 1916 (page 2)

“Belleville Soldier Wounded. Mrs. Mary McElrath, Belleville, Ont., Sincerely regret to inform you 59712 Private Harper McElrath, infantry officially reported admitted Military Hospital York, August 25th. Gunshot wound side slight. Will send further particulars when received. Officer in charge Record Office.

The above telegram was received this morning by Mrs. Mary McElrath of this city, conveying the information that her son has been wounded in action. Private McElrath, was well known in this city, having enlisted in the 21st Battalion, which left for overseas a little over a year ago. His many friends in the city trust for a speedy recovery from his wounds.”

The Intelligencer August 29, 1916 (page 2)

“Received an Acknowledgement. In response to the wish of a teacher in one of the Public schools in Belleville, Master Jim Day, a young son of Mr. and Mrs. Harry Day, of this city, sent a game of authors to the front, and Master Jim yesterday received the following letter:—Somewhere in Belgium, Aug. 12th, 1916. Dear Jim:—I wish to thank you for gift, the game ‘Authors,’ its some game Jim, we have lots of fun with it.

Will you please convey to your teacher our thanks for the interest taken, and say that all the boys are grateful for what is being done for them.

What do you think of the war Jim? I suppose your teacher tells you all about it.

We are having a great time over here fighting Fritz, he doesn’t like Canadians at all—why sometimes he even shoots at us, and we shoot right back. Did you ever see a real aeroplane, Jim? They are as thick as flies over here. It is a wonderful sight to see them flying together thousands of feet up, and to see the shells bursting about them makes your nerves tingle.

We will tell you all about it when we get back to the land of the ‘Maple Leaf.’ Best wishes to you and your pals. I am your chum, Corpl. Harry V. Doudy.”

The Intelligencer August 29, 1916 (page 6)

“Sergt. Alf Smith Makes the Supreme Sacrifice. Word has been received in this city conveying the sad intelligence that Sergt. Alfred Smith died in France on the 11th inst., from wounds. Sergt. Smith was well and favorably known in Belleville. He was by occupation a linotype operator and worked for some time in the Intelligencer office.

Deceased enlisted at Kingston and went overseas some months ago. Sergeant Smith’s father, Capt. Smith, is one of Cobourg’s well known citizens, and a brother is a rector of an Anglican church.”

[Note: Sergeant William Alfred Smith died on August 11, 1916. He is commemorated on Page 165 of the First World War Book of Remembrance.]

The Intelligencer August 28, 1916 (page 2)

“The Corby Co. and the River. From what has developed it is only fair to ask the public to suspend judgment pending investigation as to the cause of the dead fish in the River. The company deny that anything poisonous, alcoholic or otherwise injurious to health is being deposited by them. The Provincial authorities are investigating.

The Corby Company are manufacturing only for the high explosives for the Allies in the present war. Apart from this, it would be too bad if Thurlow were to lose such a large industry through its being sent down.

We hope the official enquiry will clear the company and will also result (with the co-operation of the manufacturers) in doing away immediately with any possible cause of complaint.”

The Intelligencer August 28, 1916 (page 5)

“Private Clark of the 155th Passes Away. Private James Clarke, who was an efficient and much respected member of the 155th Battalion, died on Saturday night at Ongawonda Military hospital at Kingston.

Deceased was a resident of College Hill, Belleville, and the remains were brought here after being prepared for burial. Mrs. Clarke was at the bedside of her husband when the end came, and she is most profuse in her thanks for the treatment accorded her husband by the officers of the 155th and the hospital attendants. Inflammation of the kidneys was the cause of death.

Pte. Clarke, who was 43 years of age, was born at South Shields, England. Six years ago he came to Belleville, and was employed as a boiler maker at the G.T.R. shops here. …  Deceased was a member of Oxford Lodge, Sons of England, in this city, and was a member of the Tabernacle Methodist Church. …

The widow and a military escort accompanied the remains to Belleville. In addition to the widow a young son, George, survives. To them will be extended the heartfelt sympathy of all citizens.

Pte. Clarke was deservedly popular with his fellow workmen whilst working in the G.T.R. shop here. The funeral will be held under the auspices of the Sons of England and a military escort will also be present.”

[Note: Private James Clark died on August 27, 1916. He is commemorated on Page 67 of the First World War Book of Remembrance.]

The Intelligencer August 28, 1916 (page 5)

“Making a Protest. Kingston Standard. There is considerable dissatisfaction over the fact that North Hastings has been turned over to Peterboro to form a part of the recruiting area for the 247th Battalion to be commanded by Lt.-Col. Johnston, with headquarters at Peterboro.

A strong protest has been made against the division of Hastings by the recruiting officer, and this protest will be maintained until North Hastings is returned to the fold of the county in which it is expected that a new battalion will be recruited and trained for the coming winter with Major Allen, now of the 155th Battalion in command.

The headquarters of the new battalion which will be recruited in Hastings and Prince Edward counties, will be Belleville, and in view of the fine showing that Belleville and Hastings have made in recruiting, it is claimed that a division of the county of Hastings, and the part given to Peterboro, is unfair and will result in injury to both Peterboro and Belleville in recruiting. …

Since the war began Hastings has done well, for out of it has gone men for the 2nd battalion, and many of the departmental corps at the commencement of the war. It raised the 39th Battalion, the 80th, and the 155th. It recruited a complete ammunition column, and has contributed to the 21st, the 59th, and quite liberally to artillery units and other infantry units now at the front, and the people feel that if permitted to keep their county as a whole, they can recruit another battalion.”

The Intelligencer August 26, 1916 (page 3)

“Wives Should Stay in Canada. Ottawa. Word has been received here from people engaged in relief work in London and elsewhere in England that a number of wives of Canadian soldiers now fighting in France are suffering distress because of lack of means of support.

In a number of cases the wives of Canadian soldiers left for England without notifying the military authorities, and they as a consequence are now without their separation allowances.

The wives of officers who have gone to England usually know how to look after themselves, but many of the wives of Canadian soldiers who are stranded in London are totally ignorant of what to do. The Soldiers’ and Sailors’ Families’ Association have given aid in some cases.

The military authorities here state that it is most unwise for the wives of soldiers to think of going to England unless they have private means of support.”

The Intelligencer August 25, 1916 (page 2)

“A Pleasant Visit to Barriefield Camp. Sir Mackenzie Bowell, Mayor Ketcheson, J.W. Johnson, M.P.P., W.C. Mikel, K.C., and Messrs C.N. Sulman and G.A. Bennett, motored to Barriefield Military Camp yesterday and paid a visit to Col. Adams, officers and men of the 155th Battalion, and were, they inform us, right royally received and entertained.

These gentlemen speak in the highest terms of the courtesy and kindness of the Col. officers and men of the battalion in showing and explaining all that pertains to the life and duties of a soldier, from the baking of a loaf of bread to the intricacies of a hand and field grenade.

It were well, says these gentlemen, if some of the fault finders at the cost of the munitions of war to the country would study and examine the mechanism of these apparently simple instruments of warfare and the necessary machinery to manufacture them there might be less growling and fault finding.

The party informs us they made a halt on the road down and visited the Cataraqui Cemetery for the purpose of paying a visit to the grave of the never-to-be-forgotten statesman, Sir John A. Macdonald, and express no little surprise at the simple and unostentatious granite cross that marks the resting-place of one of Canada’s greatest men.”

The Intelligencer August 24, 1916 (page 5)

“The Canadians and the Ypres Salient. A soldier just returned from the front writes as follows: Coming to Canada for the first time since the early days of the war, it is quite a surprise to find the impression current that Canadian troops have been given an undue share of the strenuous work on the British front.

This is perhaps due to the fact that people are prone to remember various active operations in which our men have been engaged, and to forget the long periods of comparative inactivity that have come between them.

They also are apt to forget that all the principle offensives, Neuve Chapelle, Loos, and so far, the Somme, have been conducted without the assistance of Canadian troops.

Another factor in creating wrong impressions is the imaginative letters that occasionally come from unreliable men at the front describing actions that never occurred, and which are sometimes taken seriously here. A classic example is the hoax perpetrated on a certain M.P.P. last spring.

I point this out with no wish to disparage the work done by our men on various parts of the line. I know them and it, too well for that. But the work should be viewed in some sort of perspective and not allowed to hide from our view the equally good and much less trumpeted work done by the Imperial forces.

That Canadians have had the honor of holding parts of the Ypres salient at times is a matter for pride, a pride that the casualty lists should not dim for us. But we must not, in fairness to our own men attempt to exaggerate that honor.

The Canadian force in Flanders is one corps in a very large army, and the people and press of Canada can do them no greater disservice than to make them ridiculous in the eyes of their fellows by foolish and exaggerated ideas and assertions as to their doings. Then men in the trenches who read your papers (including the advertisements) with considerable thoroughness, will laugh heartily, though perhaps somewhat sarcastically at your statement.

Perhaps you will forgive me for reminding you that the 1st Canadian Division was in the salient in 1915 for one or two weeks and not again for eleven months. The Canadian corps moved into the salient again this spring, and has held part of it for some four and a half months—a total for Canadians of five months.

I do not, of course, refer to the P.P.C.L.I. who were with an English division and got into rather more fighting.”

[Note: P.P.C.L.I. = Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry.]

The Intelligencer August 23, 1916 (page 2)

“Deserters Apprehended. No less than nine enlisters, all members of the 155th Battalion, were yesterday placed under arrest. Five are charged with being deserters and four with being absent without leave. They will all be taken back to the camp at Barriefield.”

The Intelligencer August 23, 1916 (page 2)

“Jeffrey Deane Dead. Mrs. G. Deane, 27 Pinnacle St. received today the following from overseas. ‘Deeply regret to inform you, 45,430 Private Jeffrey Dean, Infantry, officially reported died of wounds Military Hospital, Shorncliffe; August 21, gunshot wound, shoulder. Officer in charge. Record Office.’ ”

[Note: Private Jeffrey Deane died on August 21, 1916. He is commemorated on Page 76 of the First World War Book of Remembrance.]

The Intelligencer August 22, 1916 (page 7)

“Nursing Sister Hambly. An officer of the British Army who came from duty at the front unheralded for a brief leave at home with her father, Lt.-Col. P.H. Hambly and family, returned to active service yesterday.

Nursing Sister Mary Hambly was one of our first to enlist and serve, and her skill and enthusiastic work have earned her official commendation. No honor can be too great for our life-saving sisters.

Colonel Ponton, President of the Veteran’s Association, saw her off at the noon train, and Col. Stewart, Secretary, presented her with a bouquet of roses on behalf of the Veterans.”

The Intelligencer August 21, 1916 (page 2)

“Patriotic Songs and music by the world’s great bands are reproduced for you with a brilliant vividness and richness of tone that you will find nowhere but in Columbia Records. …  Herbert Stuart. We’ll Never Let the Old Flag Fall, Good Luck to the Boys of the Allies, The Veteran’s Song, The Old Brigade, British Grenadiers.”

 

The Intelligencer August 19, 1916 (page 5)

“Millions of homeless and penniless Belgians urgently need our assistance. It is our sacred duty to aid these innocent victims until their cowardly despoilers have been put in their proper place, and Belgium restored to her people and to her brave King.

If your wives, your brothers and your children were in a similar plight, how would you feel? Let your response be generous.”