Tuesday, November 17, 1914
Camp Salisbury Plain, West Down South
The Battalion War Diarist wrote for this day: “Rain. Lecture on Musketry in afternoon.” [1]
THIS DAY IN RMR HISTORY: Early in October of 1914, as a result of the huge response to the call for recruits for the First Canadian Contingent, and the call by the British authorities for more troops, Canadian authorities realized that a Second Canadian Division should be organized. The First Canadian Contingent, now at Salisbury Plain in southern England, was proceeding with their training under very difficult weather conditions.
Recruiting for the Second Canadian Contingent, was moving along at a very rapid pace back in Canada. All across Canada units had been brought up to strength, men were being processed, equipment issued, and training commenced. In Montreal one site for such activity was the old Montreal High School building located on Peel Street, north of Ste. Catherine St. where the Mount Royal Hotel was built in 1922. Another busy location was the Craig Street Drill Hall which was demolished about 1970.
[1] War Diary, 14th Canadian Battalion, The Royal Montreal Regiment, Nov 17, 1914. Library and Archives Canada, Ottawa, http://data2.collectionscanada.ca/e/e044/e001089676.jpg [2] The Montreal Daily Mail, Wednesday, November 18, 1914, pg. 12, cols 5, 6 & 7.
