Wednesday, December 9, 1914
In Camp, West Down South, Salisbury Plains
The Battalion War Diarist wrote for this day: “General training in morning. Holiday in p.m.” [1]
THIS DAY IN RMR HISTORY: “Ottawa, Dec. 8. – Two hundred thousand shells for the allies have already been made in Canada and 600,000 more are now in process of manufacture. As it has been stated, the British Government early in the war asked the Canadian Government what could be done regarding a supply of shells for the allies and General Hughes conceived the idea of having huge quantities made in the Dominion.
He got a Committee of experts together, including such authorities as Col. Bertram, Col. Cantlie, and Col. Carnegie, who acted in conjunction with the experts of the Militia Department. They developed a plan to distribute the orders amongst the various shops in Canada which had the proper lathes and presses. It worked successfully, with the result that about $5,000,000 has been distributed amongst the firms of Canada. The money comes from the allies.” [3]
[1] War Diary, 14th Canadian Battalion, The Royal Montreal Regiment, Dec 9, 1914. Library and Archives Canada, Ottawa, http://data2.collectionscanada.ca/e/e044/e001089681.jpg
[2] “Canadian Firms Make Ammunition,” The Montreal Daily Mail, Montreal, Quebec, Wednesday, December 9, 1914, pg. 2, col. 3
[3] Ibid.