CHRISTMAS DINNERS AND PARCELS IN 1914

Thursday, December 10, 1914

In Camp, West Down South, Salisbury Plains

The Battalion War Diarist wrote for this day: “All day rain.”  [1]

THIS DAY IN RMR HISTORY:  “Ottawa, Dec. 10.  _ The Government has decided to provide a Christmas dinner for every man on active service in Canada.  This will include the men of the Second Contingent, and also those who are being recruited for future contingents and reinforcements.   There are now over 30,000 men on active service, besides the 3,000 on guard duty so that the Government will have at least 40,000 Christmas dinners to provide.”  [3]

“Ottawa, Dec 10. – Instructions have been given to the various customs collectors throughout the Dominion that personal gifts from members of the Canadian overseas expeditionary force to relatives or friends in Canada shall be admitted free of duty during the period of the war.  This will apply not only when the troops are at Salisbury Plain, but also when they get to the front.”  [5]

 “According to information given out yesterday at the Post Office, Friday, December 11^th, is the last day on which parcels can be mailed in Montreal and be sure of reaching their destination in England or France in time for Christmas.  The actual time for the closing of the mail is 5:45 o’clock in the afternoon, but the officials said yesterday that it would be much safer to post all letters and parcels not later than noon.  Letters and parcels in this mail will be taken across the Atlantic by a Canadian steamer.”   [7]

[1]   War Diary, 14th Canadian Battalion, The Royal Montreal Regiment, Dec 10, 1914.  Library and Archives Canada, Ottawa, http://data2.collectionscanada.ca/e/e044/e001089681.jpg

[2]   “Xmas Dinner For Canadian Troops,”  The Montreal Daily Mail, Montreal, Quebec, Friday, Dec 11, 1914, pg. 1, col. 2

[3]   Ibid

[4]  “Personal Gifts From Soldiers Free,” The Globe (1844-1936), Toronto, Ontario, Friday, December 11, 1914, pg. 2, col. 1

[5]   Ibid

[6]   “Mail Christmas Parcels Not Later Than December 11th, “  The Montreal Daily Mail, Montreaal, Quebec, Tuesday, December  8, 1914, pg. 2, col. 3.

[7]   Ibid