Chapter XLVI · OCEAN TRANSPORT.

The importance of the work done in Military District No. 6 during the period of the Great War is doubtless not realized by the public, other than those who were directly interested in the work. Aside from Halifax being a fortified port, and the Naval Base of the Atlantic Fleet during the War, it was the point of embarkation of the Canadian troops for Overseas, with the exception of the First Contingent, which was sent Overseas from Quebec. Therefore the work, devolving on District No. 6, in handling the enormous number of Canadian, American, Australian and New Zealand troops that passed through here was a matter of considerable responsibility and care, not only in checking the men going on board ship, but also in providing accommodations, rations, etc., while they were held ashore at Halifax from a day to three or four weeks, awaiting the arrival of their transports. In addition it was necessary to make preparations for emergencies, of which there were several, including such things as the stranding of a troopship near the mouth of Halifax Harbor, which necessitated the safe removal, landing and caring for the troops by other than the regular methods.

The detail work in connection with these duties was great and varied. For instance, the Department at Ottawa would arrange the date for the sailing of transports and the allotment of troops for each. The Department would then notify this district accordingly. The troops allotted to each ship would arrive by special trains, often before their transport reached port. During this period of waiting many casualties would occur, either through absentees, sickness, or from other causes, necessitating extra accommodation at the local quarters or in hospital. On the arrival of the ship these men would have to be checked on board individually, all casualties accounted 306for, complete returns made out, such as marching out state, lists of officers, inspection of all documents, and many other details. After that particular ship was loaded she would pull away from the pier and remain in harbor awaiting the loading of the other transports. Very often these transports would lie in the harbor for some days before sailing, awaiting the completion of the convoy, a result being that additional casualties would occur daily on each ship during that period. These had to be taken off the ship, in turn, all documents corrected to date so that when the ship sailed from the harbor an accurate record of every man on board was complete and thus enabled the Government to check the proper charges of the Steamship Companies for transportation. In the early stages of the War transports to the number of forty would sail from Halifax in one convoy, but towards the latter end of the War the Naval Authorities provided for convoys not exceeding seventeen ships at one time.

In all there were 284,455 Canadian troops embarked from Halifax. Some 50,000 Chinamen, and a large number of American troops also embarked from this port. In addition, ships with New Zealanders and Australians on board called at this port to join the convoys, and often were allowed to land for route marches and given shore leave. This also entailed much work on this district, due to the necessity of looking after casualties, absentees, etc.

Of all the casualties occurring during these embarkations a careful record had to be kept, and in due course, that is, as soon as possible after they became fit or were apprehended, they were sent Overseas on later transports.

Many complicated questions arose during this period, as, for instance, men arriving on troop trains under arrest for misdemeanors of various kinds, and thus necessitating this district dealing with such cases.

Following is a summary of the Canadian troops that embarked at Halifax during the war period:—

Date. Ship. Embarked Halifax. Monthly Total.

1915.

Jan. 8 Zeeland 346

346

Feb. 23 Megantic 40

23 Missinabie 13

28 Scandinavian 23

76

307Mar. 6 Grampian 8

15 Northland 130

21 Corsican 40

22 Orduna

26 Hesperian 15

26 Chaleur 68

28 Missinabie 321

582

Apr. 4 Scandinavian 12

6 Georgia 76

9 Chignecto 48

10 Metagama 641

12 Manchester Corporation 73

17 St. George 414

18 Northland 1,711

18 Grampian 1,660

24 Missinabie 440

5,075

May 2 Hesperian 154

20 Saxonia 2,282

20 Halifax 37

2,473

June 14 Herschell 523

15 Caledonia 1,833

2,356

Aug. 8 Italia 1,211

8 Caledonia 994

9 Metagama 1,615

26 Caledonia 1,087

4,907

Oct. 23 Lapland 2,319

27 Orduna 1,095

3,414

Nov. 19 Chignecto 88

22 Saxonia 2,494

23 California 1,909

27 Lapland 2,281

6,772

Dec. 3 Chaudiere 98

6 Orduna 1,121

8 Italia 430

1,649

1916.

Jan. 22 Missinabie 1,591

1,591

Feb. 10 Caraquet 24

24

Mar. 13 Lapland 2,127

13 Baltic 2,606

30 Empress of Britain 3,542

31 Adriatic 2,440

10,715

308Apr. 1 Olympic 5,787

18 Missinabie 1,717

21 Chaleur 20

23 Empress of Britain 4,020

24 Lapland 2,201

29 Olympic 5,583

19,328

May 6 Chignecto 61

12 Baltic 2,612

19 Adriatic 2,325

20 Empress of Britain 3,788

26 Grampian 692

31 Olympic 5,794

15,272

June 18 Empress of Britain 3,420

19 Missinabie 1,663

28 Olympic 5,755

10,838

July 8 Lapland 2,208

15 Empress of Britain 3,778

23 Olympic 5,290

28 Caraquet 162

11,438

Aug. 6 Scandinavian 1,351

7 Cameronia 1,430

8 Metagama 1,581

8 Scotian 1,235

14 Empress of Britain 3,704

15 Grampian 1,471

21 Olympic 5,109

15,881

Sept. 11 Scandinavian 1,396

11 Cameronia 1,412

12 Metagama 1,491

12 Northland 1,473

18 Olympic 5,486

23 Lapland 2,042

25 Southland 1,379

25 Corsican 1,426

26 Laconia 2,230

26 Tusconia 2,360

20,695

Oct. 2 California 1,1 61

3 Missinabie 1,708

3 Saxonia 2,417

11, 12 & 13 Olympic 5,988

17 Cameronia 1,401

17 Metagama 1,721

17 Northland 1,662

24 Grampian 1,673

25 Mauretania 3,089

25 & 26 Corsican 1,351

30 Lapland 2,196

309Oct. 31 Caronia 4,251

31 Empress of Britain 3,796

32,414

Nov. 1 Southland 1,700

13 Olympic 5,909

23 & 24 Mauretania 3,123

27 Metagama 1,609

12,341

Dec. 16 Olympic 5,999

27 Northland 36

6,035

1917.

Jan. 23 Scandinavian 1,350

24 Canada 1,244

26 Grampian 1,525

4,119

Feb. 16 Southland 1,749

16 Missinabie 1,727

3,476

Mar. 4 Canada 1,241

4 Ansonia 1,049

25 Metagama 1,641

25 Lapland 1,637

25 Southland 892

26 Missinabie 1,595

26 Saxonia 2,357

10,412

Apr. 9 Carpathia 2,341

9 Canada 1,282

17 Scandinavian 1,194

18 Ansonia 1,102

18 Northland 1,572

18 Grampian 1,654

27 Olympic 5,605

30 Megantic 1,141

15,891

May 1 Metagama 1,696

3 Justicia 4,445

28 Olympic 5,823

11,964

June 22 Justicia 4,160

4,160

Aug. 6 Olympic 100

10 Grampian 1,500

11 Missinabie 1,402

3,002

Sept. 5 Megantic 1,854

1,854

Oct. 4 Metagama 1,276

20 Scandinavian 925

2,201

Nov. 20 Scotian 1,352

24 Megantic 1,637

27 Metagama 1,182

4,171

310Dec. 21 Missinabie 1,700

21 Grampian 1,638

28 Canada 11

3,349

1918.

Jan. 19 Kursk 50

27 Orita 320

28 Scandinavian 1,290

1,660

Feb. 5 Grampian 1,607

5 Missinabie 1,678

5 Canada 826

13 Lapland 1,815

21 Megantic 1,822

21 Meletia 1,830

21 Saxonia 2,138

28 Metagama 1,692

28 Kasmala 111

13,519

Mar. 1 Justicia 155

8 Scotian 23

8 Toloa 819

13 Chaleur 29

17 Saturnia 100

25 Missinabie 1,656

25 Scandinavian 1,293

25 Grampian 1,591

5,666

Apr. 9 Metagama 1,672

9 Tunisian 1,318

9 Ulua 949

17 Scotian 1,324

17 Toloa 1,108

17 Melita 1,906

8,277

May 11 Tierisias 1,252

11 Runic 394

16 Ajana 1,435

16 Valacia 1,020

23 C. of Marseilles 55

4,156

June 17 Pannonia 853

24 Wiamana 389

24 Gloucestershire 512

24 Ionic 27

1,781

July 2 Oxfordshire 390

3 Valacia 185

575

Total 284,455

311