To the organizing ability, and more especially the extraordinary genius for administration, of Col. W. E. Thompson must be given the chief credit for the splendid achievement and unsullied record of Military District No. 6. Second in Command of the 63rd Halifax Rifles at the outbreak of the War, he was, in December, 1914, called in by headquarters to assume the duties of Inspector of Outposts and Detachments throughout the district, with the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel. In March, 1915, he was appointed Assistant Adjutant-General and Officer in Charge of Administration of Military District No. 6. In May, 1916, he was promoted to the rank of Colonel; and during the summer of that year, in addition to his duties as Assistant Adjutant-General, was Commandant of the Camp at Aldershot. In December, 1918, Colonel Thompson succeeded to the command of Military District No. 6.

The effect of his personality and of his genius for organization and, more particularly, administration, on the whole service of Military District No. 6, as well as on its morale, was extraordinary. He was regarded by Headquarters Staff, even by the three General Officers Commanding, before he succeeded to the command, as the authentic administrative “Mind” of the district. No other military district had such varied and great administrative problems and such heavy responsibilities as Military District No. 6, and yet the War was concluded with not a single mark against the administration and not a breath of scandal on its personnel and their conduct of the various Departments. For that splendid achievement Colonel Thompson was chiefly responsible.

In heart, however, he was eminently the soldier. Repeatedly he volunteered for active service Overseas, and even specially appealed to Ottawa for permission to go Overseas with a Unit, but the Canadian Militia Department was obdurate, declaring that his genius for organization and administration was of such a character that he could not be spared from headquarters Military District No. 6. Strict, firm, and soldierly at headquarters, Colonel Thompson, notwithstanding, exemplified democracy in the most undemocratic of institutions, the army. His genuine democracy, his tempering of justice with mercy, and his fine kindliness won for him the high respect and admiration of all ranks.

Col. Gordon S. Harrington, K.C., is a son of the late C. S. Harrington, K.C., of Halifax, N.S. He was admitted to the Bar on October 19, 1904, and practised his profession at Glace Bay, N.S. He was one of the original Company Commanders of the 85th Battalion with the rank of Major, and, on the formation of the Nova Scotia Highland Brigade, returned to Cape Breton and supervised the recruiting of the 185th Battalion. He was transferred to that Unit with his rank of Major and proceeded Overseas with it. When the Brigade was broken up he was sent to the Imperial First Senior Infantry School at Bedford, where he passed the qualifying examination with the highest marks ever attained at that institution. On reporting to the Nova Scotia Regimental Depot at Bramshott he was posted to the 17th Reserve Battalion, of which he was successively Second in Command and O.C. In May, 1917, he was transferred to the Staff of the Overseas Minister, London, and a short time later was appointed Assistant Deputy Minister. In 1918 he was appointed Deputy Minister and promoted to the rank of Colonel. He served in the field on Corps Headquarters.

Having in mind the fact that at the sudden outbreak of war, August, 1914, the permanent military force of Canada only numbered 3,075, it will be readily understood that the Department of Militia and Defence was at once compelled to grapple with an enormous task for which no one could expect it to be prepared. The situation had to be met. The work had to be done. It had to be done quickly, and it is to the everlasting credit of Canada that we had men of outstanding ability and energy to cope successfully with the urgent situation.

By July, 1916, our military force was 312,844. Of these 136,185 were in Canada and 176,659 were Overseas. The number was daily increasing; and only those who were in close touch with the tremendous work of organizing, equipping, supplying and despatching such an army can realize what that meant in comparison with the work of administering affairs in regard to about 3,000 men during times of peace.

In these circumstances, and in view of the further fact that the exigencies of affairs frequently called the Minister of Militia away from Ottawa for the purpose of visiting recruiting centres and military camps in Canada, as well as Canadian Headquarters in England, the Government decided that it was necessary to have a Parliamentary Secretary of the Department of Militia and Defence; and, accordingly, on July 16, 1916, by an Order-in-Council the office was created endowing the holder with general authority in regard to administration of the Department, and directing that during the absence from Ottawa of the Minister, the Parliamentary Secretary should also preside at all meetings of the Militia Council and report to the Privy Council through the Prime Minister.

Fortunately, the services of a man of wide experience in business affairs, of well-known executive ability and withal energetic in discharge of duty, in the person of Mr. F. B. McCurdy, M.P., was available, and the Prime Minister wisely asked him to take up this very important work.

Mr. McCurdy willingly agreed; but with one stipulation. The salary affixed to the office was $5,000. Mr. McCurdy was past military age, but he believed that every man should, as far as was in his power, contribute to national duty. He, therefore, stipulated that his services as Parliamentary Secretary of the Militia Department would be a free contribution to the country, and he so served.

Immediately after Mr. McCurdy’s appointment, Sir Sam Hughes, Minister of Militia and Defence, went Overseas; and from that time, which, it will be remembered, was a very active and critical period of the War, until the creation of the Ministry of Overseas Military Forces of Canada, Mr. McCurdy played a very important part in the vital work of building up and strengthening Canada’s great army.

Naturally Mr. McCurdy while discharging his weighty duties with due and patriotic regard to the national interests of the whole country, had a sympathetic ear for his fellow Nova Scotians; and it is well known that his good judgment and influential voice prevailed in regard to irritating questions as to the representation of Battalions at the Front, with results that afforded great satisfaction to the people of his native Province. It is sufficient to say that Mr. McCurdy’s eminent record as Parliamentary Secretary proved the unerring judgment of the Prime Minister in selecting the right men for responsible positions.

At the election of December, 1917, Mr. McCurdy was returned by acclamation for Colchester, his native county.

Son of George and Elmira Foster. Born at North Kingston, Kings County, Nova Scotia, May, 1874. Graduated M.D. 1896, University of New York, U.S.A. First appointment, Canadian Militia, August 4, 1897, Lieutenant and Assistant Surgeon, 68th Regiment, Kings County, Nova Scotia. Served with Yukon Field Forces as P.M.O., March, 1898, to July, 1900. April, 1913, appointed Assistant Director of Medical Services, Military District No. 2, with headquarters at Toronto, Ontario. September, 1914, sailed from Quebec with First Canadian Contingent and appointed A.D.M.S. 1st Division Canadians, with the rank of Colonel. Served in France from February, 1915, to September, 1915, as A.D.M.S. 1st Division Canadians. September, 1915, appointed Deputy Director of Medical Services, Canadian Corps, on its formation and served with Canadian Corps in France until February, 1917, when appointed Director-General of Medical Services, Overseas Military Forces of Canada with the rank of Major-General, headquarters in London, England. March, 1920, appointed Acting Director-General of Medical Services, Canadian Militia, with headquarters at Ottawa.

Medals and Decorations.

1914–15 Star.

General Service Medal.

Victory Medal with Leaf.

Decorations, Military.

Companion of the Order of the Bath.

Knight of Grace, St. John of Jerusalem.

Officer Legion of Honour.

Civil Honors received as Head of the Canadian Medical Service during the Great War, 1914–15.

October, 1919, Edinburgh University conferred the degree of F.R.C.S.

June, 1920. McGill University, conferred the degree of LL.D.

Lieut.-Col. Charles E. Bent was a Captain in the 93rd Cumberland Regiment at the outbreak of the War. He immediately volunteered for active service and, as Adjutant of the 17th Battalion, accompanied the First Division to England. On the breaking up of that Unit he took a draft over to the 13th Battalion, arriving in France April, 1915. He reported for duty with the 15th Battalion and was given command of a Platoon. He became a Company Commander immediately after the fighting of Festubert, 1915; Second in Command December 31, 1915; and Officer Commanding the 15th Battalion in May, 1916. He took part in all fighting with the First Division until wounded August 9, 1918, near Caix, east of Amiens. He rejoined his Battalion on October 1st, and after the Armistice proceeded with the Army of Occupation to Germany. He acted as Brigade Commander on several occasions and was in command of the 3rd Brigade from October 20 to November 24, 1918. He took part in the following battles:

and others up to the signing of the Armistice, November 11, 1918.

Decorations.

Lieut.-Col. J. A. McDonald started his military career by enlisting in the 17th Sydney Field Battery in 1896, receiving first-class certificate from the R.S.A., Quebec, winter of 1897–98, enlisted for service in South Africa 1899, served in “E” Battery and 4th C.M.R., obtained commission in the 17th 1906, qualified and promoted through the various stages until he took command of the Battery in 1913, was still in command at outbreak of the War in August, 1914, when he volunteered the Battery for Overseas service through the then Brigade Commander, Lieut.-Col. H. G. McLeod. August 8, 1914. On arrival at Valcartier he was posted as Captain to the 5th Westmount Battery, 2nd Brigade, C.F.A., promoted in Field to rank of Major May, 1915, and took command of 7th Battery, promoted to rank of Lieutenant-Colonel April, 1917, and was posted to command the 3rd Brigade, C.F.A., commanded this Brigade until it was demobilized in Canada in May, 1919, except for period of three months, during which time he was attached to the 4th Canadian Division Artillery Headquarters, acting as C.R.A.

During the above period of four years and ten months on active service he went through every engagement in which the Canadian Corps took part from the day the First Canadian Division landed on French soil (February 12, 1915) up to the day of the Armistice, November 11, 1918.

Decorations are as follows:—

Total period of service, twenty-three years, of which six years and four months were spent on active service.

Went Overseas January, 1915, unattached, with the rank of Major. He was first attached to the Canadian Convalescent Hospital at Bearwood Park. From there he went to Bath, thence to Moore Barracks Hospital, and was later appointed Medical Examiner of the Pension Board, London. He went to France as Medical Officer of a Labor Battalion. He was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel and received the appointment of Commanding Officer of the medical personnel of the Hospital Ship Llandovery Castle. This ship was torpedoed by an enemy submarine on June 27, 1918, and Lieutenant-Colonel Macdonald was drowned. Out of the entire ship’s company there were only twenty-four survivors, and of the hospital personnel of ninety-seven only one officer and five other ranks escaped. In spite of their appalling circumstances the conduct of all on board was in fitting keeping with the proudest traditions of the British Army and the mercantile marine. And throughout nothing was more marked than the coolness and courage of the fourteen Canadian Nursing Sisters, every one of whom was lost. Two of the nursing sisters—Pearl Fraser and Minnie Follette—were Nova Scotians.

Miss Macdonald was born at Bailey’s Brook, Pictou County, and is a daughter of the late D. D. Macdonald. She is a sister of Col. R. St. John Macdonald, who was in command of the St. Francis Xavier Unit. Miss Macdonald served in the Spanish-American War, in the South African War, and later in the Canal Zone at Panama. In November, 1906, she was appointed a Nursing Sister in the Canadian Army Permanent Medical Corps, and after taking a course in England received the appointment of Matron-in-Chief and was in command of three thousand Canadian Nursing Sisters during the Great War. She has been decorated with the Royal Red Cross and the Florence Nightingale medal.

Lieut. M. F. Gregg, a graduate of Acadia University, Wolfville, won the Victoria Cross while serving with the Royal Canadian Regiment. The following is the official record as published in the London Gazette:

“On September the 28th, when the advance of the Brigade was held up by fire on both flanks and by thick, uncut wire, he crawled forward alone and explored the wire until he found a small gap, through which he subsequently led his men and forced an entry into the enemy trench. The enemy counter-attacked in force and through lack of bombs the situation became critical.

“Gregg, although wounded, returned alone under a terrific fire and collected a further supply, then rejoined his party which was now much reduced. Despite a second wound he reorganized his men and led them in the most determined way against the enemy trenches, which he finally cleared. He personally killed or wounded eleven of the enemy and took twenty-five prisoners, besides capturing twelve machine guns in this trench. Remaining with the Company, despite his wounds, he again, on September 30th, led the men in attack until severely wounded. The outstanding valor of this officer saved many casualties and enabled the advance to continue.”

Pte. John Croak, V.C., was born in Newfoundland and came to Glace Bay with his parents at four years of age. He attended St. John’s School, New Aberdeen, Glace Bay, and afterwards worked as a miner in No. 2 Colliery, Glace Bay (the biggest in the world). He volunteered for Overseas service in the 55th Battalion and was transferred to the 13th Battalion. He died of wounds received in action on August 8, 1918. His father, mother, two sisters and two brothers are living at Glace Bay.

The official notice from the War Office announcing the award of the Victoria Cross was as follows:

“On August 8, 1918, during the attack on Amiens Defence System, after being separated from his section, Private Croak encountered a machine-gun nest in Ring Copse, which he dealt with by first bombing unassisted and then jumping into the post, taking the gun and crew prisoners. Shortly afterwards he was severely wounded in the right arm but refused to desist.

“In a few minutes his Platoon, which this soldier had rejoined, again encountered a very strong point, containing several machine-guns and they were forced to take cover. Private Croak, however, seeing an opportunity, dashed forward alone, and was almost immediately followed by the remainder of the Platoon in a brilliant charge. He was the first to arrive at the trench line, into which he led the men, capturing three machine-guns and bayoneting or capturing the entire garrison.

“The perseverance and courage of this gallant man were undoubtedly responsible for taking the strongest point in the whole day’s advance.

“Private Croak was again severely wounded in the knee and died in a few minutes.”

On November 23, 1918, Lieutenant-Governor Grant formally presented the Victoria Cross to his mother, Mrs. James Croak, of New Aberdeen, Cape Breton. The Lieutenant-Governor complimented the parents and a sister who accompanied them on the fact that their son and brother had so well demonstrated that he came of good stock and was a good soldier, a brave man, and a hero.

Major Cecil Verge Strong, M.C., son of Percy T. Strong, Esq., of Halifax. He was O.C. 15th Field Company, Royal Engineers, and the youngest Commanding Officer in the British Army. He was killed in action March 10, 1917, aged 23 years. Buried Piney Post Cemetery, Maurepas, near Peronne. Mentioned in despatches five times.