The Carmody Genealogist

The 38th Battalion Newspaper Articles

Ottawa bade farewell this morning to upwards of 1,100 men who left for Barriefield Camp, namely, the 25th Battery and Ammunition Brigade and the 38th Infantry Battalion.  Amid cheers, flag waving and the bands playing martial music, the boys in khaki went away.

The first to leave was the 38th Battalion.  The bugles sounded the “fall in” at the Albert Street and Lyon Street barracks at 7:15 o’clock and before 8 o’clock the battalion was on the move.  The officers and men were in heavy marching order with great coats rolled about them.  Headed by the band and singing “You Wore a Tulip,” the ranks swung along Albert and Metcalfe streets.  Although a trifle early in the morning for the usual street crowds, it was not too early for the people to turn out and cheer for the 38th.  Two of the companies of the battalion and the machine gun section were recruited here and are composed almost entirely of Ottawa boys.  The third company comes from the Ottawa Valley, Smith’s Falls, Renfrew, Brockville, etc. These men naturally had many acquaintances in this city and during the long stay here in barracks they had made a great many friends.  Accordingly every company got the same good cheer.

The soldiers did their share to make the going away one to be remembered. “Are we down-hearted?” some one in the ranks would shout, and immediately the hundreds would echo back the answer “No.”  “Will we see Berlin?” and the answer would come back “Yes”.

Most of the soldiers carried Union Jacks tied to their rifles.  The battalion turned off Metcalfe Street into Wellington and along Wellington Street to Broad Street station.  This is an advantageous station from which to send away the troops.  The railway officials there took a common sense view that the great majority of the big crowd present were friends and relatives of the soldiers who were going away and naturally wanted to shake hands and bid them farewell. Accordingly the entire crowd was allowed on the platforms from which they could have the final talk with the soldier boys. Many mothers brought a box of eatables for her boy, for fear he might be hungry on the train. Many a maiden brought a little keep-sake for her soldier lover and kissed him good-bye at the station.  Wives were there to bid their husbands good-bye, and children to wave farewell to “Daddy.”

The train carrying the soldiers was in two sections.  In the first section were the bands, B Company and the machine gun section. In the second section were A and C Companies. The first section pulled out at 8:50 and the second section 20 minutes later.

As the soldiers left, the band of the 38th Battalion played Auld Lang Syne and The Girl I Left Behind Me.

All the baggage of the 38th was packed up Monday and the men slept in their uniforms so they woke up all dressed.

An interesting feature of the crowd that lined the streets was about 25 Italians who cheered lustily as the troops marched past.

Rev. H. I. Horsey of Welcome Zion Congregational Church marched with Lt.-Col. Edwards, commander of the battalion. Rev. Mr. Horsey may be appointed chaplain of the battalion, and it would be a most popular appointment. So far no chaplain has been named for the regiment.

The Artillery left Lansdowne Park shortly after 8 o’clock. The 8th Canadian Mounted Rifles trumpet and pipe bank headed the battery and ammunition column as it marched up Bank Street, McLeod Street, Metcalfe Street and along Sparks Street to Central Station. The great majority of members of the artillery are Ottawa boys with the exception of one section of the battery which is made up of students from Toronto University.

As the soldiers were shouting various yells which have been compiled since the corps were organized and were given with enthusiasm along the march, the well known yell of Toronto Varsity reminded one of how well the universities of Canada have responded to the call to arms.

The big white bull dog, the mascot of the artillery, seemed unwilling to leave Ottawa and came along much against his will.

Lt.-Col. Arnoldi was in command of the parade and big crowds greeted the soldiers as they marched through the central portion of the city, the later hour being very much more convenient for the public. The friends and relatives filled the square at the junction of Sussex and Besserer Streets, where they strove to wave a farewell to their friends in the line as the troops marched into the station and on to the train.

The train pulled out at 9:30 for Barriefield Camp as the throngs from the station, the bridges and the opposite side of the canal waved and shouted the soldiers a farewell.

The guns of the artillery, four 12-pounders and two 18-pounders with limbers and wagons, were loaded on Saturday and proceeded to camp. The horses and the two remaining 18-pounder guns will be provided at Barriefield.

The 8th Canadian Mounted Rifles leave Lansdowne Park at 7:30 o’clock tonight, and will march by Bank Street, McLeod, Metcalfe and Sparks to Central Station where the battalion entrains at 8:30 o’clock for Barriefield Camp, Kingston. The G. G. F. G. regiment will turnout and accompany the Canadian Mounted Rifles to the station. The Guards band will head the parade.

About 175 horses were entrained today from Lansdowne Park for Barriefield. The other horses out there, which are chiefly draught horses, will be left for the Engineers.

 The Carmody Genealogist

The 38th Battalion Newspaper Articles