A Kingston Commemoration

I'm working with a group to organize a commemoration in Kingston for next year. It is to take place on May 5. The event is to mark the departure of Kingston's 21st Battalion and the Queen's Sationary Hospital Corps in 1915. The nature of the event is yet to be fully formed but it will involve displays the weekend before the date and a march of the PWOR to what remains of the outer station. Below is a transcription from Kingston's local paper about the original departure. The pictures are inserted by me from online collections of the 21st Battalion and the Hospital Corps.

My personal interest is to get people in uniforms to reflect the original Great War gear. Should anyone reading this want to become involved in some way in that "reenactor" capacity please call me. We will mostly be gathering '08 Pattern equipment so it can be used over the next four years, but I do have my Oliver Pattern equipment to add to the mix.

Transcribed from the British Whig, 6 May 1915

KINGSTON SAID FAREWELL TO THE OVERSEAS UNITS Which Left the City on Wednesday Evening

15,000 PEOPLE LINED

THE ROUTE OF MARCH TO THE RAILWAY STATION

Mayor Sutherland and W.F. Nickle, M.P. addressed the Units at the Armouries. Touching Scenes Were Witnessed At the Junction.

Fifteen thousand people said farewell to the 21st Overseas Battalion and the Queen’s Stationary Hospital Corps on Wednesday evening when those units left the city. Montreal Street was lined from end to end as the battalion and the hospital corps passed through to entrain. There were touching farewells, the bands played “Should Auld Acquaintances be Forgot”, “The Girl I Left Behind Me”, “Tipperary” and “Johnny Canuck’s the Boy”, and then the trains rolled slowly out the the station yards amid hearty cheers from the assembled crowds.

The kit inspection of the 21st Battalion was made by Major C.C. Bennett on Wednesday afternoon. The battalion with bands paraded to Artillery Park at 3 p.m. and formed into companies. The roll call was taken and beginning with No. 1 Company the kit of every man was thoroughly inspected. Any defects or changes that were necessary were ordered, but very little of this was necessary as a very complete and thorough inspection was made a few days ago.

The men wore their overcoats and Oliver equipment. This equipment held waterproof sheet, blankets, canteen and knap-sack. The knap-sack held a sweater coat, housewife, socks, underwear, shaving utensils, and everything a man needs on active service.

After the inspection the companies went to their quarters, where supper was served.

The Mayor Speaks

In addressing the 21st Battalion Wednesday afternoon, Mayor Sutherland said in part: “The time has now arrived which we know you have all been looking toward to with the greatest eagerness – the time when you leave the old Limestone City to go to the front to meet the enemy of our empire.

“I not only express my own feelings but those of the citizens of every class when I state that Kingston has indeed been greatly honoured in having the 21st Regiment receive its training in our midst. By your gentlemanly and soldierly conduct you have endeared yourselves to us all, and it must indeed be most gratifying to your commanding officer and other officers to know that they have the honour of commanding such a fine body of men.”

To the Queens’s Stationary Hospital Mayor Sutherland said:

“ Yours is a different mission from that of the 21st Regiment. It is an errand of mercy, and I must congratulate you on the personnel of yourstaff, both military and civil; also on the personnel of the Nursing Sisters who accompany you.

“That our sons when wounded or ill will receive that loving care and attention which is their due, is assured and we know that in your own field a large measure of credit and honor will fall on the Dominion and city whom you represent and the college which sends you forth.

“The personnel from your commanding officer down is one which any country or city may well be proud of, and I can assure you the old Limestone City is more than proud of its representatives in this contingent and those who have gone before.”

W.F. Nickle, M.P. spoke a few words, referring to the appreciation by the citizens of having the battalion here all winter. It was with regret that the notice to leave for overseas had come and yet it was a pleasure to see so many young, earnest Canadians willing to go to the front. He said he thoroughly believed the remark that there were two Canadians at all times ready to fill the vacancy that a German bullet might make in the Allies’ lines. The 21st Battalion had very efficient officers and men, and the combination had worked such wonders that at present the 21st is one of the best if not the best battalion to leave Canadian shores.

In reply, Lieut.-Col. W.S. Hughes thanked the Mayor and Mr. Nickle for their kind words, and said that if Kingston appreciated having the battalion here all winter, he for one appreciated the people’s treatment of the men. Everyone in Kingston has done everything possible for their comfort, and he was sure that the men would always remember their stay in Kingston as one of the most pleasant events of their lives.

An Impressive Departure

The departure of the units was one of the most impressive events Kingstonians have ever had an opportunity of witnessing.

The nursing sisters, in their natty military uniforms with cap badges, insignia of their lieutenant’s rank on their shoulders, and everything complete, boarded their Pullmans at the city Grand Trunk station at 7 o’clock amid cheers of hundreds.

The officers and men of the hospital corps marched from the armouries to the outer station with the 21st Battalion to music furnished by the R.C.H.A., 14th and 21st pipes, bugle and brass and the Salvation Army bands. As the units entered the station gates a great cheer broke from the crowds.

Every car of the two trains was marked with the number and name of the company for which it was meant, and there was no confusion, although the farewells from so many friends made the soldiers’ progress through the mass rather difficult. Everyone was crowding to get near the line and say good-bye to friends. Needless to say, the nurses were given a great send-off. All were in a cheerful mood.

An hour later a short whistle of the locomotive was the signal for the start and the first train pulled slowly out of the yard.

Notes About the Departure

As the 21st Battalion approached the gate of the Junction station, Lieut.-Col. Hughes espied Trooper L.W. Mulloy, the blind South African veteran, in a carriage, and he hurriedly left the ranks to shake hands and say farewell. It was a touching scene.

The Kingston Veterans’ Association, headed by a large Union Jack, led the overseas units on the march to the station. There are still in the various hospitals of the city several soldiers connected with the 21st Battalion. They may be unfit for further active service. Three members, however, who showed signs of marked improvement were taken from the military hospital on Queen Street, Wednesday evening, and placed in a cab, which drove them to the railway station. Here they were placed aboard the hospital coach. The soldiers were Col.-Sergt. Holmes, Sergt. Mantell and Pte. Leach. The latter, thinking that he was going to be left behind, cried until the officer in charge was finally persuaded to allow him to go.

Queen’s Stationary Hospital

Queen’s University, lower campus was well filled with interested spectators at 4:30 o’clock on Wednesday afternoon when a review was held of the members of Queen’s Stationary Hospital Corps who are going overseas.

The members of the corps were put through their drill and they made a fine showing. The Nurses who appeared in military uniform were much admired and many were the complementary remarks heard about them. After the review a group photograph was taken of the corps by G.E. Marrison.

Afterwards the corps was entertained at tea in the Red Room at the University by some of the wives of the city doctors.