122nd Muskoka Battalion Enters The Great War; Bracebridge Red Cross Memorial Hospital A Fitting Tribute To Fallen Soldiers

BEGINNING OF THE GREAT WAR, IN THE WORDS OF MUSKOKA HISTORIAN
ROBERT J. BOYER

SOUTH MUSKOKA MEMORIAL HOSPITAL WAS ORIGINATED THE RESULT OF PROTEST; CITIZENS WHO WANTED A MORE SUBSTANTIAL WAR REMEMBRANCE

     THERE ARE A FEW AMONGST US, WHO DISBELIEVE THERE IS SUCH A THING AS A MUSKOKA IDENTITY. THEY WOULD LOOK INSTEAD, WITH A NOD OF THE HEAD, AT THE SOCIAL / CULTURAL UNIQUENESS OF THOSE INHABITANTS OF REGIONS SUCH AS LABRADOR, NEWFOUNDLAND, CAPE BRETON, PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND, NOVA SCOTIA, NEW BRUNSWICK, AND THE AREA OF THE GASPE, THE ST. LAWRENCE REGION, QUEBEC, THE ARCTIC COMMUNITY, AND THE PRAIRIES. YES, INDEED. PEOPLE FROM THESE REGIONS HAVE CULTURAL IDENTITIES, DIFFERENT THAT, SAY, ONTARIANS! AS FOR BEING CULTURALLY UNIQUE CANADIANS, BEING MUSKOKAN DOESN'T SEEM ALL THAT DIFFERENT THAN BEING FROM HALIBURTON, OR ALGONQUIN, AS FAR AS ONTARIO REGIONS GO. WE DON'T HAVE AN ACCENT, OR A DIALECT THAT IS UNIQUE TO REGIONAL INHABITANTS; AND ALL IN ALL, OUR CULTURAL RANKING WOULD BE NEVER CONSIDERED WORTH TABULATING. BUT IF YOU LOOK CLOSELY, AS I'VE WRITTEN ABOUT FOR THE PAST WEEK, THERE ARE SUBTLE DIFFERENCES, AND SOCIAL/CULTURAL IMPRINTS, BUT NOT QUITE PECULIAR ENOUGH TO WARRANT A SPECIAL MUSKOKA STUDY TO THIS END. THERE ARE SUBTLE CULTURAL REALITIES OF LIVING IN A LAKELAND ENVIRONMENT, INGRAINED IN US OVER THE DECADES. KEEP IN MIND THAT MUSKOKA HAS BEEN KNOWN AS ONE OF THE PREMIER TOURIST REGIONS IN NORTH AMERICA, AND AS A MUSKOKA RESIDENT, CHANCES ARE PRETTY GOOD, YOU HAVE BEEN IMPACTED IN SOME WAY BY THE ANNUAL MULTI-MILLION DOLLAR INDUSTRY. THERE ARE MANY FAMILIES IN THIS REGION, THAT HAVE BEEN IMBEDDED IN THE TOURIST ENTERPRISE SINCE THE LATE 1800'S, AND CONTEMPORARY FAMILIES, WHERE EVERY MEMBER WORKS IN SOME CAPACITY IN TOURISM. FROM PIONEER STOCK, OUR OWN FAMILY, HAS BEEN INTIMATELY INVOLVED IN THE TOURISM ECONOMY, DATING BACK TO THE 1860'S, AND WE ARE STILL IMBEDDED IN THE INDUSTRY IN 2014. THERE IS A SOCIAL / CULTURAL HISTORY HERE, THAT IS PROPORTIONAL, TO NOT ONLY RURAL LIVING, WITH LOTS OF NAVIGATIONAL / RECREATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES, BUT ALSO RESPONSIVE TO THE HARSH REALITIES OF ECONOMIC SURVIVAL, IN A TOUGH, LIMITED TOURIST INDUSTRY; THAT HAS TRADITIONALLY BEEN A TWO MONTH PEAK, WITH A TEN MONTH SHOULDER SEASON. TODAY, THE TOURIST PEAK MAY STILL BE LIMITED TO THE MONTHS OF JULY AND AUGUST, BUT LOCAL TOURISM HAS SLOWLY BECOME A YEAR ROUND ECONOMIC REALITY. AND THAT IS A BOON FOR MOST MUSKOKANS, WHO ARE SEEING THEIR BUSINESSES AND EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES TO IMPROVE, AS A DIRECT RESULT. BEFORE THE CITY EXPANDS NORTH, AND CONSUMES THE HINTERLAND FOR ITS NEIGHBORHOOD PLAYGROUND, I WANT TO MAKE SURE IT'S KNOWN, THAT AT LEAST ONE HISTORIAN, WAS WORRIED ENOUGH ABOUT OUR CULTURE'S SURVIVAL, TO CAST IT INTO PRINT, AS 'THE WAY WE WERE, BUT NOT LIKELY HOW WE SHALL REMAIN.' TODAY, I WANTED TO SHED A LITTLE LIGHT, ON A PERIOD IN OUR HISTORY, WHERE MUSKOKANS WERE FIRST ASKED TO PULL TOGETHER, AND FIGHT THE GOOD FIGHT, TO PRESERVE OUR WAY OF LIFE; OUR FREEDOM. MUSKOKA GOES TO WAR!
     THERE ARE VERY FEW POST WAR MEMORIALS, THAT CAME ABOUT AS A RESULT OF COMMUNITY-WIDE PROTEST. BY CIRCUMSTANCE, I WAS ONCE ENLISTED, AS AN ANNIVERSARY HISTORIAN, FOR ONE SUCH MEMORIAL, TO THOSE KILLED DURING THE CONFLICT OF THE FIRST WORLD WAR.
     IN MY TIME, WORKING AS A PROJECT HISTORIAN, AT SOUTH MUSKOKA MEMORIAL HOSPITAL, IN BRACEBRIDGE, I FOUND SOMETHING OUT ABOUT REGIONAL HISTORY, I HADN'T KNOWN PREVIOUSLY. WITH ACCESS TO A CONSIDERABLE QUANTITY OF RECORDS, FROM THE ORIGINAL RED CROSS MEMORIAL HOSPITAL, OPEN IN THE 1920'S, I DISCOVERED WHY THE MEDICAL FACILITY HAD BEEN SITUATED IN BRACEBRIDGE, AND NOT GRAVENHURST. I ALSO LEARNED THAT IT WAS ESTABLISHED AS A DIRECT RESULT OF CITIZEN PROTEST, IN BRACEBRIDGE, OVER A RATHER PECULIAR CIRCUMSTANCE. THE STORY GOES LIKE THIS.
     IN THE YEARS AFTER THE FIRST WORLD WAR, A CITIZEN COMMITTEE, ACTING IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE COUNCIL OF THE TOWN OF BRACEBRIDGE, WAS REACTING TO THE DEMAND OF LOCAL CITIZENS, TO ESTABLISH AN APPROPRIATE CENTRAL MEMORIAL, TO RECOGNIZE THOSE SOLDIERS FROM THE COMMUNITY, WHO HAD LOST THEIR LIVES DURING THE GREAT WAR. WHEN IT WAS DECIDED TO BUILD A COMMUNITY BANDSTAND, IN WHAT WAS NAMED "MEMORIAL PARK," ON UPPER MANITOBA STREET, TO HAVE AN EVENTUAL CENOTAPH, THERE WAS GENERAL ACCEPTANCE THIS WOULD BE A FITTING TRIBUTE. BUT NOT EVERYONE WAS SATISFIED THAT A BANDSHELL WAS ENOUGH, TO REFLECT THE PRIDE OF THE COMMUNITY. WHAT HAPPENED SHORTLY THEREAFTER, WAS A GROUND SWELL OF ENTHUSIASM, TO RE-VISIT THE "MEMORIAL" ISSUE, ONCE AGAIN, BECAUSE IT WAS FELT MORE WAS NEEDED; AND THERE WERE FUNDS BEING OFFERED TO CREATE SOMETHING, WITH AN EVEN GREATER PURPOSE WITHIN THE TOWN. IT WAS AT THIS POINT OF GENERAL DISCUSSION,  THAT A SUGGESTION OF A MEMORIAL HOSPITAL WAS MADE, AND IT RECEIVED SUBSTANTIAL CITIZEN ENDORSEMENT. WHILE THERE WAS PRIVATE MEDICAL FACILITY, OPERATED BY MRS. GOGGIN, I BELIEVE, ON UPPER MANITOBA STREET, THERE WAS A NEED FOR A LARGER HOSPITAL FACILITY, TO SERVE NOT ONLY THE CITIZENS OF BRACEBRIDGE, BUT SOUTH MUSKOKA GENERALLY. WHILE IT WAS INTENDED TO BE A MEMORIAL TO THE WAR DEAD WHO HAD A CONNECTION WITH BRACEBRIDGE, THE HOSPITAL WOULD BECOME A SYMBOLIC "MEMORIAL" TO THE SACRIFICES OF THE GREAT WAR, FROM THE MUSKOKA DISTRICT, THAT IT WOULD ASSIST MEDICALLY, UP TO THE PRESENT DAY. THUS, BORN FROM PROTEST, THAT THE FIRST MEMORIAL ATTEMPT, WASN'T SUBSTANTIAL ENOUGH, THE FIRST PUBLIC HOSPITAL IN SOUTH MUSKOKA WAS OPENED, WITH RED CROSS MANAGEMENT. (THERE WERE SANATORIUMS OPERATING IN GRAVENHURST, FOR TUBERCULAR PATIENTS AT THIS TIME). THE HOSPITAL WOULD BE KNOWN AS THE RED CROSS MEMORIAL HOSPITAL, SITUATED IN A RESTRUCTURED HOUSE ON THE SAME PROPERTY, OF TODAY'S SOUTH MUSKOKA MEMORIAL HOSPITAL, ON ANNE STREET, TWO BLOCKS FROM MANITOBA STREET.
     DURING MY BRIEF PERIOD AS HISTORICAL ADVISOR, I DID BECOME WORRIED, THAT OVER TIME, AND WITH TALK OF AMALGAMATION OF SERVICES WITH HUNTSVILLE HOSPITAL, THAT THE "MEMORIAL" DESIGNATION WOULD BE DROPPED FROM ITS REFERENCE, IN THE MEDIA, AND GRADUALLY BY TOWN COUNCIL; AND EVENTUALLY BY THE CITIZENS THEMSELVES, KNOWING IT INSTEAD AS MUSKOKA / ALGONQUIN HEALTH CARE CENTRE. WHEN THE NAME WAS CHANGED BACK IN THE 1960'S, WHEN THE RED CROSS PULLED OUT OF THE HEALTH CARE FACILITY, AND THE ORIGINAL HOUSE WAS DEMOLISHED AND REPLACED BY A NEW HOSPITAL BUILDING, THE "MEMORIAL" DESIGNATION, WAS MAINTAINED, IN THE NEW TITLE OF "SOUTH MUSKOKA MEMORIAL HOSPITAL." QUITE A FEW CITIZENS, DURING MY YEAR WITH THE HOSPITAL, IN A HERITAGE CAPACITY, WORRIED ABOUT THIS GRADUAL WATERING-DOWN OF WAR MEMORIAL STATUS, AND I ASSURED THEM, AS I REINFORCE AT THIS MOMENT OF WRITING, THAT AS LONG AS I LIVE, THE "MEMORIAL" WILL NOT BE LOST IN THE CONFUSION OF THE AMALGAMATION STATUS OF AREA HOSPITALS. I ALSO BELIEVE IT IS INCUMBENT OF THE MEDIA, TO MAKE SURE THAT THE FACILITY'S PROPER TITLE IS USED WHENEVER POSSIBLE, BECAUSE THIS AFTERALL, IS THE SITE'S ORIGINAL PROVENANCE AND SIGNIFICANCE TO THE FINE CITIZENS OF THIS TOWN, AND REGION, WHO INVESTED SO HEAVILY WITH ITS ORIGINAL CREATION, AND ITS ONGOING OPERATION.
     THERE ARE MANY "MEMORIAL" HOSPITALS THAT WERE CREATED IN RECOGNITION OF THE SACRIFICES OF WAR, BUT VERY FEW INDEED, WOULD HAVE BEEN ESTABLISHED THE RESULT OF CITIZEN PROTEST; BASED ON DISSATISFACTION, THE ORIGINAL MEMORIAL OFFERING WAS TOO SMALL, AND NOT THE KIND OF LEGACY THEY FELT APPROPRIATE, FOR THE LOSS OF SO MANY CITIZENS. THE CREATION OF SOUTH MUSKOKA MEMORIAL HOSPITAL WAS VERY MUCH A REGIONAL INITIATIVE, AND WOULDN'T HAVE BEEN A SUCCESSFUL REDEVELOPMENT, OF THE ORIGINAL MEMORIAL, IF IT HADN'T BEEN FOR THE WILLINGNESS OF PARTNER MUNICIPALITIES, SUCH AS MUSKOKA LAKES AND GRAVENHURST, TO JOIN IN, TO IMPROVE HEALTH CARE SERVICES. BUT MAKE NO MISTAKE, IT OWES ITS ESTABLISHMENT IN THE TOWN OF BRACEBRIDGE, TO THE CITIZENS WHO FELT A MEMORIAL HAD TO PLAY A BIGGER ROLE IN EVERY DAY LIFE. THEY WERE VISIONARY IN THIS REGARD, AND IT REMAINS A VIBRANT TRIBUTE TO THOSE WHO GAVE THEIR LIVES, FOR THE FREEDOMS WE ENJOY TODAY.
     ONE AMUSING ANECDOTE, TO ATTACH HERE, GOES BACK TO THE PERIOD OF THE EARLY 1970'S, WHEN I USED TO WORK SUMMERS AS AN INSIDE/ OUTSIDE PAINTER AT THE HOSPITAL. ONE DAY, I WAS TASKED WITH A PAINTING JOB IN AN AROUND THE MEMORIAL PLAQUE IN THE HOSPITAL ENTRANCE-WAY. I HAD A BAD HABIT OF PAINTING OBJECTS, AND OTHER ASPECTS OF ARCHITECTURE, AS WELL AS A FEW PARKED CARS, WITH DROPLETS AND ERRANT BRUSH STROKES. I WAS STANDING WITH MY PAIL OF PAINT, IN ONE HAND, BRUSH IN THE OTHER, TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO NAVIGATE AROUND THE PEOPLE COMING AND GOING, AND GET MY JOB DONE WITH NO PAINTING CASUALTIES. I WAS READING THE PLAQUE, WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN I FELT THE PRESENCE OF PEOPLE STANDING DIRECTLY BEHIND ME. SEEING AS I WORE PAINT-COVERED CLOTHING, AND SOME OF IT WAS WET, I TRIED TO MOVE FORWARD A BIT, TO AVOID THEM ACCIDENTALLY  BRUSHING AGAINST ME, AND GETTING SOME OF MY PAINT ON THEIR CLOTHES. THEY GOT CLOSER, AND FINALLY I TURNED TO WARN THEM, THAT I HAD WET PAINT ON MY SHIRT AND PANTS, SO IT WOULD BE PRUDENT TO GIVE ME A LITTLE SPACE.     WELL, THE TWO CHAPS BEHIND ME, WERE HOSPITAL ADMINISTRATOR, FRANK HENRY, AND GROUNDSKEEPER, BILL "WILLY" ANDISON, AND THEY WERE INSPECTING MY WORK ON A NEARBY WALL. THEY WERE GREAT KIDDERS, BUT WILLY WARNED ME NOT TO GET PAINT ON THE MEMORIAL PLAQUE BY ACCIDENT. I WAS WORKING PRETTY CLOSE. FRANK AGREED, SUGGESTING IT WOULD BE A HUGE JOB TO CLEAN IT OFF. REALIZING THEY WERE JUST HAVING SOME FUN WITH ME, I QUICKLY TURNED AROUND INTENDING TO MOTION, THAT I WAS GOING TO PAINT THEM INSTEAD, WITH MY OUTSTRETCHED BRUSH.
     I DON'T KNOW HOW I DID IT, BUT LET'S JSUT SAY IT WASN'T UNUSUAL DURING MY APPRENTICESHIP. BECAUSE THERE WAS NO CAMERA TO GET AN INSTANT REPLAY, I WILL NEVER KNOW WHY THE SPRAY OF PAINT OCCURRED IN THE FIRST PLACE. BUT PAINT FLEW OFF MY BRUSH, AND HIT THE PLAQUE. I DON'T THINK THERE HAS EVER BEEN A TIME IN MY LIFE, THAT I WAS SO UPSET, AND EMBARRASSED, HAVING COMMITTED THIS BREACH IN FRONT OF MY BOSS. FORTUNATELY I WAS A FRIEND OF THE HENRY FAMILY, AND UNDERSTOOD BY FRANK, TO BE AN EAGER PAINTER-IN-TRAINING, SO FRANK JUST HANDED ME A RAG, AND OFFERED SOME PRUDENT ADVICE. "MR. CURRIE, YOU WILL NEED SOME VARSOL ON THAT RAG. BETTER DO IT QUICKLY BEFORE ANY BOARD MEMBERS SEE IT, OR WE'LL ALL BE IN TROUBLE, INSTEAD OF JUST YOU!" WILLY ANDISON, BIT DOWN HARD ON HIS STILL WARM PIPE, SMILED, WINKED, AND CHORTLED SOMETHING THAT SOUNDED LIKE, "YOU ALWAYS AMAZE US TED, WITH WHAT YOU PAINT AROUND HERE. AND SOME OF IT IS EVEN WHAT YOU'RE ACTUALLY SUPPOSED TO PAINT." ENOUGH SAID. I RAN BACK TO THE SHOP, TOLD MY DEPARTMENT BOSS, KEN DAWSON, WHAT HAD HAPPENED, AND I WAS SENT BACK WITH THE APPROPRIATE CLEANER, TO RESTORE WHAT I HAD CORRUPTED OF OUR "MEMORIAL" HOSPITAL DEDICATION. SO I'VE BEEN TRUE TO MY WORD, AND HAVE PRESERVED THE INTEGRITY OF THAT MEMORIAL, FROM PAINT, AND NEGLECT, FOR A LOT OF YEARS NOW. I WON'T BE STOPPING ANY TIME SOON. AS A MATTER OF INTEREST, BOTH CHAPS NOTICED PAINT SPLATTER ON THE BACKS OF THEIR JACKETS, WHEN THEY GOT HOME THAT NIGHT. I CAN'T EXPLAIN THIS MISADVENTURE EITHER, OTHER THAN I MAY HAVE HAD TOO MUCH PAINT ON THE TIP OF MY BRUSH, FOR MY OWN GOOD OR THEIR'S. AND I ALWAYS LEFT TRACE PAINT MARKS IN THE HOSPITAL CAFETERIA, ON THE CHAIRS I SAT AT COFFEE TIME. "WATCH OUT, HERE COMES THAT CURRIE KID," WAS A FAMILIAR WARNING OF HOSPITAL STAFF TO COLLEAGUES.

THE 122ND BATTALION MADE MUSKOKA PROUD - SHORT LIVED BUT THE CONTRIBUTION OF SOLDIERS CONSIDERABLE FROM RURAL AREA

     My long-time mentor, at The Herald-Gazette, Muskoka Historian, Robert J. Boyer, wrote the following about the commencement of the Great War, from a local perspective. "But life was pleasant in Muskoka summertime, and many of the town's families, like so many visitors from the south, enjoyed wonderful days at the lake. So it was that the men coming from business in the evenings, bringing the daily papers with them, were beginning to say that the news looked as if there might be a war. 'Surely not, in this day and age,' their womenfolk replied. But the news did become progressively serious.
     "It is the interesting fact that so little was war expected in this summer period, that both the Prime Minister of Canada, and his Minister of the Militia, were absent from Ottawa, visiting Muskoka. Sir Robert and Lady Borden, were at the Royal Muskoka Hotel on Lake Rosseau. Briefly to recount the circumstances, Prime Minister Borden and his wife arrived by train at Muskoka Wharf, Gravenhurst, on July 23rd, 1914, and proceeded in the private launch of Major Hugh McLean, president of the Muskoka Lakes Navigation Company, to the Royal Muskoka. At Port Carling, as the launch was being locked-through, they were greeted by a large number of citizens and visitors who had assembled, and Reeve Fred Hanna, read them an address from the Port Carling Village Council. The address contained no hint of a war. It expressed gratification that the Prime Minister had again chosen Muskoka in which to spend a well earned vacation. The address congratulated him on his recent Knighthood, 'an honor well deserved, and one which we are sure will be worthily worn'. The address also spoke of public works of the Canadian and Ontario governments on the Muskoka Lakes, which were decided improvements; not only the locking system at Port Carling, but new wharves at Beaumaris, Windermere and Bracebridge, and the new post office built in Bracebridge. In reply, Sir Robert Borden spoke of the pleasure Lady Borden, and he, took in a vacation from political life in the world-famed Muskoka District, with its scenery of the finest. and the beautiful homes of hundreds who spent their summers on these lakes.
     "Flowers were presented by Queenie Croucher, and Flora Harris, to Lady Borden and the Prime Minister, gave each of the girls a kiss. The party then left for Royal Muskoka, and spent a week there. On July 27th, (1914) they attended the annual regatta of the Muskoka Lakes Association, in Port Carling, when the Prime Minister made a speech. What he said was not recorded in the local papers, but some who were there have told us he did refer to the European situation, then just beginning to boil following the tension between Austria, Hungary, and Serbia, after the Austrian heir to the throne, had been assassinated June 28th. If Sir Robert Borden spoke of this, it did not seem important enough to the Muskoka news reporters to record. Finally however, the international situation was becoming more strained, and messages from Ottawa, changed the plans of the head of the Canadian Government. As a report in The Gazette of August 6th noted, 'Premier Borden left Muskoka rather hurriedly, on the evening of July 30th, for Ottawa, on account of the looming war clouds'."
     Mr. Boyer reports, in his book, "A Good Town Grew Here," published in 1975, by The Herald-Gazette Press, that, "Colonel and Honorable Sam Hughes, was named Minister of the Militia and Defence, in the Borden Cabinet, formed in 1911. He was a popular man in the general section of which Muskoka was a part, publisher of a weekly newspaper at Lindsay; The Watchman, and M.P. for Victoria in the House of Commons, since 1896. Heading the Militia Department, he was committed to reform of the military forces and among other things, greatly expanded the Laurier Government's program, of providing armouries throughout the country. As noted in these pages, Bracebridge had been seeking the location of a drill hall, or something even better. This probably was a factor in the invitation to Colonel Hughes, to visit Bracebridge on July 31st, 1914. During the course of his visit, the Minister did promise that Bracebridge would have an amouries building, and hinted that one to cost $30,000 would be built in the next season. This was a peacetime promise, of course, and when the rear part of the post office building was extended, to include a small armouries section in due course, it was less than intended.
     "When the Minister arrived on that beautiful day, Friday afternoon, July 31st, by special train from Ottawa, hundreds awaited him at the Grand Trunk Railway Station, in Bracebridge, with the bugle band under command of Bugle-Major O. Cooper, and the Citizens' Band, led by Bandmaster Simmons, ready to salute the distinguished guests. There were 15 automobiles ready to take the visitor, the mayor and councillors, members of the Board of Trade and the press, in the parade through the principal streets of Bracebridge, which had been well decorated with flags and bunting. At Memorial Park, Town Clerk Alex Salmon, read the council address of welcome which congratulated Colonel Hughes, on his work as a Minister of the Crown; his unceasing work in perfecting the defensive forces of Canada."
     Mr. Boyer writes, "In a book on the First World War, Honorable Leslie M. Frost, whose boyhood home was Orillia, wrote that the story of that war, was in large part, the story of the small towns of Canada. We are paraphrasing Mr. Frost's words, but it is true that from towns such as Orillia, Bracebridge, Gravenhurst, and Huntsville, and the surrounding rural areas, came the men whose service counted in the Great War effort. Many of the men of Muskoka, raised in the 122nd Muskoka Battalion, which started enlistments in December, 1915, were later in Britain and France, to be engaged in forestry work, for which they were well qualified. After the war the statement was indeed made that the Canadian forestry units, 'helped defeat the submarine...more surely than a fleet of ships.' But no-one in that August and autumn of 1914, had any conception of how difficult, and brutal, the war was to become during the next four years."
     "A few days after the war began, some Bracebridge men were in uniform, under orders from the 23rd Regiment, to join their unit for the formation of the First Canadian Contingent. On August 15th, 1914, the first men to leave Bracebridge, were on their way to camp, whence they would go to Valcartier and then overseas. In Bracebridge these first soldiers were properly lionized. As was reported, 'Amid patriotic music, cheering crowds and tears, 24 gallant boys entrained for Parry Sound, where they will go into training for a week, before leaving for Valcartier. They paraded down Manitoba Street, led by the Band, to the station where a great crown had assembled.' A meeting had been held at the town hall, two evenings before, presided over by Mayor Smith, and it was decided to make a cash donation to these men. A list was opened, and over one thousand dollars was raised, in trust, to Lieutenant John E. Code.     In the party leaving that summer day, were Lieutenant Code, Lieutenant Kenneth A. Mahaffy (who qualified in March for his commission), Percy Armstrong, Percy Boles, James Cooper, William Duffy, Vernon Failes, Donald Fraser, Joseph Fulton, Charles Grimwood, John Hollingworth, Bert Levett, George Longman, James Martin, Alex Mathieson, William May, William Moule, Alex Prevost, Alec Ross, Walter Scott, Jack Tougher, Howard Vincent, John Waterhouse and Fred Walsh. What was seen in Bracebridge in those early days of the war, was also witnessed in Gravenhurst and Huntsville, as men who were 'on call' for service, proceeded to their units. The raising of money for the first volunteers, to leave for army service, was indicative of the wish of people generally, to do something, anything, to help the war effort. In the first few months of the war, citizens' meetings took place, women organized to raise money for medical services, and there were meetings of farmers, who listened to addresses on the subject of the need for greater agricultural production."
     Mr. Boyer writes, that, "Also, a call to Muskoka farmers to help the cause by sending supplies for the relief of distress caused by the war, was promptly and generously met. Five carloads of potatoes and oats were sent from Huntsville, Utterson and Bracebridge railway stations. Farmers in one Muskoka community decided, however, to send foodstuffs for the benefit of poor people in Toronto.
     "Once war came, the Minister of Militia was anxious to demonstrate the quick response of Canada to the emergency, and indeed the country as a whole was with him in this. The Minister promised to send a contingent of 25,000 men overseas, but the reply to his call to colors, was so great that by September 8th, 32,665 officers and men were assembled at Valcartier, and began crossing the Atlantic by October 3rd. That wet winter, the Canadians trained on Salisbury Plain in England, in February the First Division crossed to France, and by April were in heavy action, in Flanders, near Ypres. The steadiness of the Canadian soldiers in the face of attack by the professionals, of Germany, brought new fame to Canada. As soon as the First Contingent was on its way, the raising of the Second Contingent was commenced, and the 23rd Northern Pioneers Regiment, was to provide three officers and 100 men. In Bracebridge the numbers volunteering were greater than required, and eight men were selected to go with Lieutenant Code, who was to be one of the officers. They were Reginald Hines, Jack Tucker, and Joseph McDonald, of Bracebridge; Henry Harvey, Charles Welsh and Frank Cowell, of Monck; Frank Humphrey, of Macaulay, and John Wimpory, of Stratford, a Muskoka Lakes man. On the evening of October 31st, 1914, although little notice of their intended departure, had been given, there was an immense crowd at the station to bid goodbye to the second group of volunteers from Bracebridge. The Town Council's meeting, October 13th, 1914, was of an unusual character, in that they were called on to discuss plans for assistance, in the cause of the war. The communications included requests for assistance towards the War Relief Fund, and for organization of a local branch of the Canadian Patriotic Fund. Arrangements were made for a citizens' meeting for the Patriotic Fund organization. At this time Bird Woollen Mills were already busy with rush orders for blankets for the Canadian troops, and enquiries for the same purpose had been received from the United Kingdom and French Governments. The Department of Trade and Commerce, Ottawa, in October, advised farmers and lumbermen of the urgent enquiries from Britain for pit props, which were unobtainable there because the Baltic Sea was closed to U.K. Trade."
    Robert Boyer concludes this Great War overview, from a local perspective, noting, "The story of the war which followed is a record of sacrifice. The raising of the 122nd Muskoka Battalion of more than 800 men in Muskoka - aside from those who served in other units, was the greatest thing the people of Muskoka had done together to this point. It called for harder work of the people at home, filling in the gaps in farm work, lumber camps, stores and businesses of the young men who left, and vacant places left by these men in their homes, where often they were the mainstay of a family. But it was accomplished well, and the men were a credit to the District. They enlisted and trained in the early months of 1916, under command of a distinguished Muskoka soldier, Colonel Donald Mackenzie Grant, of Huntsville. The story of the 122nd deserves telling in greater detail."

     Join me tomorrow, as I begin my Christmas in Muskoka series of blogs, dedicated to this magnificent region, and all the folks who have lived and worked here since the beginning; from the first homesteads in the clearings of the pine forest, up to and including the present. It will be a celebration of what we have, as a region, in social, cultural folk history, that we should be proud to steward into the future.