canada and the great war. sam hughes minister of militia participated in south african war (boer...
TRANSCRIPT
CANADA AND
THE GREAT WAR
SAM HUGHES
• Minister of Militia• Participated in South
African War (Boer War)
• Initially promises to send 25,000 men to Britain
• By 1916, Hughes has promised 500,000
The reality of the situation:
• In 1914, 3,000 members of Canadian Army
• 2 battleships
• BUT, by end of 1914 more than 59,000 had volunteered
• In 1915, 159,000 volunteer
• Clergy and women asked to persuade men to enlist
White Feather and More…
• Some women would offer a white feather in public to men- On assumption
(usually unfair) that they are cowards
• Posters appeal directly to women to “allow” husbands to go to war.
VALCARTIER
• Recruits train at Valcartier
• French Units not permitted to work together
• Instead, dispersed among English contingents– Further alienates the French Canadian
• French have less attachment to France than English do to Britain
First Canadians Overseas…
• 31,200 depart in 30 ships from Quebec City in October, 1914
• They are to be further trained in England upon arrival
• When they arrived, they are placed on Salisbury Plain in winter
• Rained EVERY DAY but one–on that day:IT SNOWED
THE CANADIAN UNIFORM
ROSS RIFLE
• Marketed to Sam Hughes as a great target and sporting weapon
• Although some minor defects, Ross Rifle used by Canadian military and defended by Sam Hughes
• Ross rifle out of place in trench conditions• Rifle jammed and misfired when covered in mud
and grime• Canadians would frequently steal guns off dead
British soldiers and dispose of Ross Rifle
ROSS RIFLEROSS RIFLE
MACADAM SHOVEL
• Invented and patented by Sam Hughes
• Shovel has hole for shooter to put gun through
• BUT – where do you look?
• Not bulletproof!!
• Entire shipment of 22,000 shovels which had cost the government over $29,000 was sold off as scrap in 1917 for $1,400.
MACADAM SHOVEL
CARDBOARD BOOTS?!?
• Complaints that boots were not fit for the trenches
• In effort to cut costs, Canadians equipped with boots with soles made from cardboard