Trooper A. H. Roberts was transferred from the Canadian Mounted Rifles to the Army Service Corps as 2nd Lieutenant; and Major A. H. Van Straubenzie was ordered to Ceylon with the rank of Lieut.-Colonel. The following Canadian officers were also appointed to the West African Frontier Force: Captains J. Wayling and A. E. Rastrick, Lieutenants W. H. Gundry and W. P. Miller, and 2nd Lieut. R. D. Wigham. About the same time Capt. F. E. L. Barker was made Adjutant of the 17th Brigade, Royal Field Artillery, at Aldershot. Canadian to the Besides the popular reception to the Strathconas and members of the second Contingent, all the compliments within the power of the Government and the people Soldiers were conferred upon the returning soldiers and officers from South Africa during the year. Nor were the men who had helped to equip and send away the Contingents forgotten. On January 2nd a banquet was given at New Westminster to returning soldiers of various Contingents and gold watches presented to G. B. Corbould, A. O. Lohman, W. G. Wallace, C. S. Leamy, J. Porter Smith, O. J. Wilkie and W. H. Brooking by the corporation and citizens. Following the banquet to Colonel Otter in Toronto at the end of December, 1900, came a dinner at the Rideau Club in Ottawa, on January 10th, to Lieut.-Col. Lawrence Buchan, his second in command. Mr. Berkeley Powell, M.P.P., presided, and amongst those present were H.E. the Governor-General, Major-General O'Grady-Haly, Capt. A. C. Bell, A.D.C., the Hon. F. W. Borden, Minister of Militia, the Hon. Mr. Mulock, Colonel W. H. Cotton and Mr. Justice Girouard. The chairman, in the course of his remarks, stated that after Col. Otter had been wounded, "Lieut.-Col. Buchan had command of the regiment for 31 days, during which time it was engaged over a dozen times and was present at the capture of numerous important towns, experiencing its hardest marching and fighting, viz., 284 miles marching and 11 days and 2 nights fighting.' It was with Ian Hamilton's column, at this period, on his celebrated march toward Pretoria. At Zand River, on May 10th, Col. Buchan with 200 Canadians had held off a thousand Boers for a whole day. In his reply the guest of the evening was most eulogistic regarding the services of the officers and men of his regiment. At London, on February 11th, an enthusiastic gathering in the Opera House cheered the local veterans, listened to their formal welcome home by Mayor Rumball, and witnessed the presentation of gold watches to 73 representatives of London's loyalty. The Mayor presented an eloquent civic Address, in the course of which he read the words: "You have been, to a greater extent perhaps than you think, nation-building: you have done more to bring this fair Canadian Dominion close to the heart of the Empire than could be accomplished by many years of statecraft." A few of the 73 soldiers mentioned had not yet returned from the front, but the bulk of them were present, including Lieut.-Col. L. Buchan and Capt. A. E. Carpenter. A personal welcome was given Capt. Archie Becher by his fellow students of the Western Medical College at London, on February 19th, in the form of a reception, concert and the presentation of a massive silver loving-cup. New Edinburgh, Ont., welcomed twelve returning soldiers on February 20th with a reception, an Address and the presentation of a gold ring to each. Victoria, B.C., gave a banquet on February 21st to Capt. H. E. Burstall, the Rev. R. B. Blyth and the other veterans who had returned from the front. Messrs. J. H. Turner and R. McBride represented the Government, and Mayor Hayward occupied the chair. Chatham, N.B., held a great gathering on March 6th, presided over by Mayor Loggie, and presented gold watches to its five returning soldiers. Sergeant-Major Cox of the South African Light Horse was given a most enthusiastic reception at Maugerville, N.B., on February 9th, and a handsome gold and diamond locket. In Rossland, B.C., the six local volunteers from the front were entertained at a public reception, given watches, lockets and chains, and tendered an eloquent welcome home by Dr. Edward Bowes. Berlin, Ont., turned out to a man on August 6th to welcome Sergt. Quirmbach and to share in the public presentation of a gold watch, chain and locket to their representative at the front. Major Septimus J. A. Denison, A.D.C. to Lord Roberts, returned to Canada early in the year, and was welcomed in London on February 22nd. In England on his way home he had shared with Major Hamilton Merritt the honour of a place in the funeral procession of the late Queen Victoria. Bonfires, playing bands and general enthusiasm were the characteristics of the reception accorded to him at the Wolseley Barracks. In an interview given to the Free Press, of the same date, Major Denison declared that "the gratitude and kindly feeling of the people of England towards Canadians have never been understood by us. There is very little, indeed, that Canada asked for in reason which she could not get to-day from the people of Great Britain." During the evening a dinner was given by "B" Company of the 7th Regiment, at which Lieut.-Col. Buchan, Major Denison, Capt. Carpenter and Sergeant G. R. B. Sippi were the guests of honour. At Charlottetown on February 24th, Capt. W. A. Weeks and other volunteers from Prince Edward Island were welcomed home at a reception where speeches were made by Lieut.-Governor McIntyre, Premier Farquharson, Chief Justice Sullivan, Mayor Warburton and others. On the following evening they were given a banquet, and, in the course of his speech, Capt. Weeks lauded the work of the British medical men and hospital corps during the campaign. Toronto welcomed Lieut. Churchill Cockburn, v.c., home on February 26th. A large crowd of citizens, the Governor-General's Body Guard and the students of Upper Canada College-of which he was a graduate-were at the station. Dr. G. R. Parkin, C.M.G., the Principal of the College, delivered a speech of welcome to its second V.C. representative -the first having been Lieut.-Col. Dunn-and other addresses were made. In the evening a large reception was given by Mr. and Mrs. G. R. R. Cockburn in honour of the event. On March 7th the Governor-General's Body Guard gave a dinner in honour of the returned members of the regiment, at which Lieut. Cockburn was a principal guest. On May 6th the officers of the Regiment tendered a banquet to Lieut. Cockburn, v.c., Major Hamilton Merritt and Lieut. D. B. Warren. Lieut.-Col. C. A. Denison presided. A dinner was also given by the National Club to Lieut. Cockburn in honour of his winning the Victoria Cross. Later on he received a sword of honour from the city at the hands of the Duke of Cornwall and York. In Hamilton, Capt. W. R. Ecclestone, who had served with marked distinction in South Africa as Chief of Staff of the Canadian Field Postal Service, was banquetted on February 28th. Mr. Adam Brown presided and amongst the speakers was Lieut. W. R. Marshall of the first Contingent. On the same evening Lieut. A. E. Swift, of the Royal Canadian Regiment, was dined at the Garrison Club in Quebec and presented with an Address and a gold watch and chain. In Montreal, Capt. R. Costigan of the Artillery was banqueted on March 8th, together with Surgeon-Major Wilson. A feature of the former's speech was his praise of Canadian horses; of the latter's, his belief that the Army Medical Corps had done all that men could do under difficult conditions. At Pembroke, on March 11th, Capt. H. J. Mackie was given a public reception, an illuminated Address and a gold medal by the citizens of the town, together with a banquet in the evening. In Quebec, Lieut. R. E. W. Turner, v.C., D.S.O., was greeted with a great public reception on May 10th. There were cheering crowds at the wharf and in the streets. He was officially welcomed by the Queen's Own Canadian Hussars, in which he held the rank of Major, and on the succeeding day a civic Address was presented with all ceremony. On May 16th he was banqueted at the Garrison Club, and during the Royal visit in September a sword of honour was presented to him on behalf of the city by the Duke of Cornwall and York. In June the final meeting of the Quebec Committee which had in hand a testimonial to the Rev. Father P. M. O'Leary for his well-known services as Chaplain of the first Contingent made their final report. The total fund collected was $3,600, of which Father O'Leary would only accept $500 for immediate wants on his return. Arrangements had been made by which the balance was given to certain charities, a small sum per annum being paid to the Reverend gentleman. On August 5th, Major T. L. Boulanger was welcomed home to Quebec by great crowds, a procession, fireworks in the evening and the presentation of an illuminated Address and costly watch. In St. John a sword of honour was presented to Capt. F. C. Jones, of the first Contingent, on October 18th, by the Duke of Cornwall and York on behalf of the citizens. In Quebec, Major Oscar C. C. Pelletier, of the first Contingent, was also given a handsome sword of honour, subscribed to by leading citizens and presented by Lieut.-Governor the Hon. L. A. Jetté. Meanwhile, official honours were being conferred upon both officers and men. On January 1st the services of Lieut.-Col. De la C. T. Irwin, Secretary of the Canadian Patriotic Fund, were recognized by the receipt of a C.M.G. from the King. Early in the year it was also announced that four officers who had much to do with the heavy work involved in the despatch of the Contingents were to be promoted and that Lieut.-Colonels L. F. Pinault, D. A. Macdonald, W. H. Cotton and J. L. H. Neilson had been made Colonels. On May 31st a number of promotions in the Militia were announced as honours won by service in South Africa. To be Colonel.-Lieut.-Col. C. W. Drury, C.B., A.D.C. 66 66 66 66 66 66 Lieut.-Col. Lawrence Buchan, C.M.G. Lieut. Col. F. L. Lessard, C.B. Lieut.-Col. T. D. B. Evans, C.B. To be Lieutenant-Colonel.-Major G. Hunter Ogilvie. Major W. G. Hurdman. Major O. C. C. Pelletier. Major R. E. W. Turner, V.C., D.S.O. To be Major.-Captain C. M. Nelles. Captain V. A. S. Williams. 66 Captain L. E. W. Irving, D.S.O. Captain H. A. Panet, D.S.O. Captain A. H. Macdonell. Captain H. B. Stairs. Lieutenant-Colonels W. D. Otter and J. A. G. Hudon had been previously promoted. In connection with services rendered in the despatch of the Contingents Captains Fred White, A. Benoit and P. Weatherbee were also promoted a step. Lieut. E. W. B. Morrison was made Captain. On August 12th, following, Lieut.-Col. S. B. Steele, C.B., M.V.O., was gazetted a Colonel; Majors G. E. Saunders and A. C. Macdonell of the North-West Mounted Police were made Lieut.-Colonels; and Capt. W. Forester was promoted a step in rank. Surgeon Lieut.-Col. the Hon. F. W. Borden, M.D., M.P., was gazetted Hon. Colonel of the Canadian Army Service Corps. On August 25th, Lieut.-Col. L. Herchmer, of the second Contingent was retired with the Honorary rank of Colonel and Lieut. J. H. Emsley raised a step in rank. During the year two veterans of the war assumed command of Militia Regiments-Lieut.-Col. R. E. W. Turner, V.C., D.S.O., of the Queen's Own Canadian Hussars at Quebec, and Lieut.-Col. G. W. Cameron, D.S.O., of the Royal Scots at Montreal. In connection with these various official honours some exception was taken to the fact that Major S. J. A. Dension, C.M.G., received no Militia promotion. The reason was understood to be that the Imperial nature of his services on Lord Roberts' staff was distinct from the more specific Canadian services which it was intended to honour. Strong *It may be stated here that the military titles given in the text of this Section are those representing the rank which was held in South Africa and not the higher rank which many officers held in the Militia at home. criticism appeared in the press regarding the matter; not the least of which were protests in the Toronto Globe, the London Free Press, the Toronto Mail and Empire and the Ottawa Journal. No public explanation, however, was forthcoming, nor was any promotion accorded.* Another incident of a similar nature was the claim that Lieut.-Col. J. A. G. Hudon had been overlooked in the distribution of Imperial honours. So keenly did he believe that men of lesser rank and lesser service had been distinguished over his head that he refused to accept the war medal from the hands of the Duke of Cornwall and York. In this latter connection it may be added, that the South African war medal, for which 21 clasps in all were alloted, was presented by His Royal Highness during his tour to a very large number of the returned officers and soldiers. General Colonel In One of the most prominent incidents of the South African war, so far as the internal politics of Canada were concerned, was the prolonged controversy between Major-General E. T. H. Hutton, C.B., in command of the Canadian Militia at the outbreak of the war, and Lieut.-Col. S. Hughes, M.P., who was largely instrumental in stirring up the earlier elements of Canadian public opinion in favour of active participation in the conflict. The matter was ventilated in the House of Commons, on February 25, 1901, in the form of a demand by Lieut.-Col. Hughes for the production of a large number of letters which had passed between himself and General Hutton and other officers. speaking to the motion, he claimed that the Return which was brought down a year before was "incomplete, garbled and distorted," and that he had now no intention of attacking the late Commanding Officer, but was simply desirous of tersely and thoughtfully stating the facts. He commenced by describing the condition of affairs in Canada and South Africa at the close of the year 1899; the desirability and necessity of Canadian aid to the Motherland; the weaknesses of the British soldier in effectiveness and initiative which he believed to exist; and the consequent advantages of Colonial assistance. He declared that the dispute between himself and Major-General Hutton had arisen mainly over the latter's statement in private conversation that Colonial troops would not be capable of taking their place beside British regulars without three years training and only then under the command of British officers. He asserted that in the original Return private letters of his had been printed without the corresponding private letters from the General and quoted letters of his own to the same Commanding Officer which contained phrases such as this: "We have no love for those who imagine that Britain's greatness depends on officialdom, nor for those Britishers-'remittance men,' chance offspring and others sent out to the Colonies and too often placed in positions of trust which they are incapable of filling." In this and many other letters written before going to * On March 5, 1902, it was officially announced that the brevet rank of Lieut.-Colonel had been conferred upon Majors S. J. A. Denison, C.M.G., and T. L. Boulanger and that of Major upon Capt. J. Cooper Mason, D.S.O., for services rendered in South Africa. |