Sunday, November 22, 1914
Camp Salisbury Plain, West Down South
The Battalion War Diarist wrote for this day: “Drew 310,000 rounds of ammunition. Bayonets ordered to be sharpened. This made men think that move to France was imminent.” [1]
At this time the Canadian contingent was equipped with the Canadian Ross rifle (Mark III, except for the 15th Bn. equipped with the Mk. II).
“The adoption of the all-Canadian Ross Rifle prior to World War One was an important milestone for the nation’s fledgling arms industry; its impact on the fighting abilities of Canadian soldiers in 1915 was equally marked. The Ross came with its own bayonet, worn in a brown leather frog (here we see the Mark II) as part of the Oliver Pattern infantry equipment with which Canadian soldiers were equipped prior to and in the early years of World War One.”[3]
CHURCH PARADES: THIS DAY IN RMR HISTORY – “London, Nov 23. – A welcome change in the church parade was made at Salisbury Plain yesterday. In view of the bitter weather the services were conducted in the Y.M.C.A. tents, instead of in the open air. Two battalions were able to crowd into one tent. Anglican and Presbyterian chaplains joined for the one service.
The Newfoundlanders and the Seventeenth Nova Scotia men have removed to quarters formerly occupied by the Princess Pats, who have gone to Winchester to join the brigade of which they are to form a part…
Since leave has been granted pretty freely during the last few weeks, the number of telegrams arriving in camp informing members that their relatives are sick in various parts of England have been perfectly amazing. Last week a well-known Toronto trooper got a wire: “Get three days leave, but nobody is ill.”[4]
[1] War Diary, 14th Canadian Battalion, The Royal Montreal Regiment, Nov 22, 1914. Library and Archives Canada, Ottawa, http://data2.collectionscanada.ca/e/e044/e001089676.jpg
[2] http://www.canadiansoldiers.com/weapons/bayonets.htm
[3] Ibid.
[4] “Quarters at Salisbury Are Being Rearranged; Departure of Princess Pats to Winchester Makes Room For Other Corps,” The Globe(1844-1936), Toronto, Ontario, November 24, 1914, pg. 4. col. 3.