Chapter V
Reading edition
THE CONSCRIPTION ACT
The question of conscription came to a final issue on May 18, 1917, when the premier returned from England, where he had been in conference with his colleagues on the Imperial War Board. It was then that he announced that it would be necessary to introduce a conscription measure in the near future.
"A great struggle lies before us," he said, "and I cannot put that before you more forcibly than by stating that at the commencement of this spring's campaign Germany put in the field one million more men than she put in the field last spring.... Hitherto we have depended on voluntary enlistment. I, myself, stated to Parliament that nothing but voluntary enlistment was proposed by the Government. But I return to Canada impressed at once with the extreme gravity of the situation and with a sense of responsibility for our further effort at the most critical period of the war. It is apparent to me that the voluntary system will not yield further substantial results."
Only a little over fifty thousand men more were needed to supply the need at the front, and to complete Canada's full quota, but they were needed most imperatively. That this need was strongly impressed on the public mind became apparent during the month which intervened between these utterances by the premier and the first presentation of the Conscription Bill in Parliament. As a matter of fact, Australia and South Africa were the only belligerent countries besides Canada, at this time, which had not been compelled to adopt the principle of forcible enlistment.
On June 11 the bill was presented to Parliament, with a speech by the premier explaining all its provisions. Administration was placed under the Department of Justice, and the term was for the duration of the war, including demobilization. All male British subjects in Canada were included, from the ages of twenty to forty-five. Those eligible were divided into six classes, according to their marital conditions and ages, and each class was to be called in succession. An amendment presented by the leader of the opposition would have submitted the bill to a referendum vote of the electorate, but this was rejected by a vote of 111 against 62. The bill finally passed the third reading by a vote of 102 against 44.
At the end of the year 404,395 eligible men had registered. The number of men eventually drafted under this law amounted to 83,000, making the total number of enlistments up to the end of the war 611,741.
The army thus raised was eventually represented in infantry and cavalry battalions, exclusive of engineers, forestry, railway construction, pioneer, and cyclist corps, or the Siberian expeditionary force of 4,000 men. The following list was issued by the Government at the close of the war:
ORIGINAL OFFICERS OF INFANTRY BATTALIONS
BATTALION ORIGINAL OFFICER IN COMMAND MOBILIZED SAILED
First Lt. Col. F. W. Hill Valcartier October 3, 1914
Second " D. Watson " " 3, 1914
Third " R. Rennie " " 3, 1914
Fourth " R. H. Labatt " " 3, 1914
Fifth " G. S. Tuxford " " 3, 1914
Sixth " R. W. Paterson " " 3, 1914
Seventh " W. Hart-McHarg " " 3, 1914
Eighth " L. J. Lipsett " " 3, 1914
Ninth " S. M. Rogers " " 3, 1914
Tenth " R. L. Boyle " " 3, 1914
Eleventh " R. Burritt " " 3, 1914
Twelfth " H. F. McLeod " " 3, 1914
Thirteenth " F. O. W. Loomis " " 3, 1914
Fourteenth " F. S. Meighen " " 3, 1914
Fifteenth " J. A. Currie " " 3, 1914
Sixteenth " R. G. E. Leckie " " 3, 1914
Seventeenth " S. G. Robertson " " 3, 1914
Eighteenth " E. S. Wigle London, Ont. April 18, 1915
Nineteenth " J. J. McLaren Toronto May 13, 1915
Twentieth " J. A. W. Allen " " 15, 1915
Twenty-first " W. St. P. Hughes Kingston " 6, 1915
Twenty-second " F. M. Gaudet St. Jean, P.Q. " 20, 1915
Twenty-third " F. W. Fisher Quebec February 23, 1915
Twenty-fourth " J. A. Gunn Montreal May 11, 1915
Twenty-fifth " G. A. LeCain Halifax " 20, 1915
Twenty-sixth " J. L. McAvity St. John, N.B. June 13, 1915
Twenty-seventh " I. R. Snider Winnipeg May 17, 1915
Twenty-eighth " J. F. L. Embury " " 29, 1915
Twenty-ninth " H. S. Tobin Vancouver " 20, 1915
Thirtieth " J. A. Hall " February 23, 1915
Thirty-first " A. B. Bell Calgary May 17, 1915
Thirty-second " H. J. Cowan Winnipeg February 23, 1915
Thirty-third " A. Wilson London, Ont March 13, 1916
Thirty-fourth " A. J. Oliver Guelph, Ont October 23, 1915
Thirty-fifth " F. C. McCordick Toronto " 16, 1915
Thirty-sixth " E. C. Ashton Hamilton June 19, 1915
Thirty-seventh " C. F. Beck Sault Ste. Marie November 27, 1915
Thirty-eighth " C. W. Edwards Ottawa May 30, 1916
Thirty-ninth " J. A. V. Preston Belleville June 24, 1915
Fortieth " A. Vincent Halifax October 8, 1915
Forty-first " L. A. Archambault Quebec " 18, 1915
Forty-second " G. S. Cantlie Montreal June 10, 1915
Forty-third " R. M. Thomson Winnipeg " 1, 1915
Forty-fourth " E. R. Wayland " October 23, 1915
Forty-fifth " F. J. Clark Brandon March 13, 1916
Forty-sixth " H. Snell Regina October 23, 1915
Forty-seventh " W. R. Winsby New Westminster November 13, 1915
Forty-eighth " W. J. H. Holmes Victoria July 1, 1915
Forty-ninth " W. A. Griesbach Edmonton June 4, 1915
Fiftieth " E. G. Mason Calgary October 27, 1915
Fifty-first " R. Del. Harwood Edmonton April 18, 1916
Fifty-second " J. A. D. Hulme Port Arthur November 23, 1916
Fifty-third " R. M. Dennistoun Winnipeg March 29, 1916
Fifty-fourth " W. M. Davis Nelson, B. C November 22, 1915
Fifty-fifth " J. R. Kirkpatrick Sussex, N. B October 30, 1915
Fifty-sixth " W. C. G. Armstrong Calgary March 23, 1916
Fifty-seventh " E. T. Paquette Quebec June 2, 1916
Fifty-eighth " H. A. Genet Toronto November 22, 1915
Fifty-ninth " H. J. Dawson Brockville April 21, 1916
Sixtieth " F. A. Gascoigne Valcartier November 6, 1915
Sixty-first " F. J. Murray Winnipeg April 21, 1916
Sixty-second " J. Hulme Vancouver March 23, 1916
Sixty-third " G. B. McLeod Edmonton April 22, 1916
Sixty-fourth " H. M. Campbell Halifax March 31, 1916
Sixty-fifth " N. Lang Saskatoon June 18, 1916
Sixty-sixth " J. W. McKinery Edmonton April 28, 1916
Sixty-seventh " Lorne Ross Victoria " 21, 1916
Sixty-eighth " P. E. Perrett Regina " 28, 1916
Sixty-ninth " J. A. Dansereau Montreal " 17, 1916
Seventieth " R. I. Towers London, Ont. " 24, 1916
Seventy-first " D. M. Sutherland Woodstock, Ont. " 21, 1916
Seventy-second " J. A. Clark Vancouver " 23, 1916
Seventy-third " P. Davidson Montreal March 31, 1916
Seventy-fourth " J. M. McCausland Toronto " 29, 1916
Seventy-fifth " S. G. Beckett " " 29, 1916
Seventy-sixth " J. Ballantine Barrie, Ont. April 23, 1916
Seventy-seventh " D. R. Street Ottawa June 19, 1916
Seventy-eighth " J. Kirkcaldy Winnipeg May 20, 1916
Seventy-ninth " G. Clinglan Brandon, Man April 24, 1916
Eightieth " W. G. Ketcheson Belleville May 16, 1916
Eighty-first " B. H. Belson Toronto April 28, 1916
Eighty-second " W. A. Lowry Calgary May 20, 1916
Eighty-third " R. Pellatt Toronto April 28, 1916
Eighty-fourth " W. D. Stewart " June 18, 1916
Eighty-fifth " E. C. Phinney Halifax October 12, 1916
Eighty-sixth " W. W. Stewart Hamilton May 19, 1916
Eighty-seventh " I. P. Rexford St. Jean, P. Q. April 23, 1916
Eighty-eighth " J. R. Cullin Victoria May 31, 1916
Eighty-ninth " W. W. Nasmyth Calgary " 31, 1916
Ninetieth " W. A. Monroe Winnipeg " 31, 1916
Ninety-first " W. J. Green St. Thomas June 28, 1916
Ninety-second " G. G. Chisholm Toronto May 20, 1916
Ninety-third " I. J. Johnston Peterborough July 15, 1916
Ninety-fourth " H. A. C. Machin Port Arthur June 28, 1916
Ninety-fifth " R. K. Barker Toronto May 31, 1916
Ninety-sixth " J. Glenn Saskatoon September 26, 1916
Ninety-seventh " A. B. Clark Toronto " 18, 1916
Ninety-eighth " H. A. Rose Welland, Ont. July 8, 1916
Ninety-ninth " T. B. Welch Windsor, Ont. May 31, 1916
Hundredth " J. B. Mitchell Winnipeg September 18, 1916
Hundred-first " D. MacLean " June 28, 1916
Hundred-second " J. W. Warden Victoria " 18, 1916
Hundred-third " E. C. J. L. Henniker " July 23, 1916
Hundred-fourth " G. W. Fowler Sussex, N. B. June 28, 1916
Hundred-fifth " A. E. Ings Charlottetown July 15, 1916
Hundred-sixth " R. Innes Truro, N. S " 15, 1916
Hundred-seventh " R. Glenn Campbell Winnipeg September 18, 1916
Hundred-eighth " G. H. Bradbury Selkirk, Man. " 18, 1916
Hundred-ninth " J. J. H. Fee Lindsay, Ont. July 23, 1916
Hundred-tenth " J. B. Youngs Stratford, Ont. October 31, 1916
Hundred-eleventh " J. D. Clark Galt, Ont. September 25, 1916
Hundred-twelfth " H. B. Tremaine Windsor. N. S. July 23, 1916
Hundred-thirteenth " W. A. Pryce Jones Lethbridge, Alberta September 25, 1916
Hundred-fourteenth " A. T. Thompson Cayuga, Ont. October 31, 1916
Hundred-fifteenth " F. V. Wedderburn St. John, N. B. July 23, 1916
Hundred-sixteenth " S. Sharpe. Uxbridge, Ont. " 23, 1916
Hundred-seventeenth " L. J. Gilbert Sherbrooke, P.Q. August 14, 1916
Hundred-eighteenth " W. M. O. Lochead Kitchener January 23, 1917
Hundred-nineteenth " T. P. T. Rowland Sault Ste. Marie August 8, 1916
Hundred-twentieth " D. G. Fearman Hamilton " 14, 1916
Hundred-twenty-first " A. W. McLelan New Westminster, B.C. " 14, 1916
Hundred-twenty-second " D. M. Grant Huntersville & Galt, Ont. June 2, 1917
Hundred-twenty-third " W. B. Kingsmill Toronto August 7, 1916
Hundred-twenty-fourth " W. C. V. Chadwick " " 7, 1916
Hundred-twenty-fifth " M. E. B. Cutcliffe Brantford " 7, 1916
Hundred-twenty-sixth " S. J. Hamilton Toronto " 14, 1916
Hundred-twenty-seventh " T. Clark " " 22, 1916
Hundred-twenty-eighth " F. Pawlett Moosejaw, Sask. " 15, 1916
Hundred-twenty-ninth " W. Knowles Dundas, Ont. " 22, 1916
Hundred-thirtieth " J. F. De Hertel Perth, Ont. September 23, 1916
Hundred-thirty-first " J. D. Taylor New Westminster October 31, 1918
Hundred-thirty-second " G. W. Mesereau Chatham, N. B. " 25, 1917
Hundred-thirty-third " A. C. Pratt Simcoe, Ont. " 30, 1916
Hundred-thirty-fourth " A. A. Miller Toronto September 6, 1916
Hundred-thirty-fifth " B. Robson London, Ont. August 22, 1916
Hundred-thirty-sixth " R. W. Smart Port Hope, Ont. September 25, 1916
Hundred-thirty-seventh " G. W. Morfitt Calgary August 22, 1916
Hundred-thirty-eighth " R. Belcher Edmonton " 22, 1916
Hundred-thirty-ninth " W. H. Floyd Cobourg September 25, 1916
Hundred-fortieth " L. H. Beer St. Johns, N. B. " 25, 1916
Hundred-forty-first " D. C. McKenzie Fort Francis April 29, 1917
Hundred-forty-second " C. M. R. Graham London, Ont. October 31, 1916
Hundred-forty-third " A. B. Powley Victoria February 17, 1917
Hundred-forty-fourth " A. W. Morley Winnipeg September 18, 1916
Hundred-forty-fifth " W. E. Forbes Moncton, N. B. " 25, 1916
Hundred-forty-sixth Major C. A. Lowe Kingston, Ont. " 25, 1916
Hundred-forty-seventh Lt. Col. G. F. McFarland Owen Sound November 18, 1916
Hundred-forty-eighth " A. Magee Montreal, P.Q. September 26, 1916
Hundred-forty-ninth " R. G. C. Kelley Watford, Ont March 28, 1917
Hundred-fiftieth " H. Barre Montreal September 23, 1916
Hundred-fifty-first " J. W. Arnott Strathcona October 3, 1916
Hundred-fifty-second " S. Nells Wayburn, Sask " 3, 1916
Hundred-fifty-third " R. T. Pritchard Guelph, Ont April 29, 1917
Hundred-fifty-fourth " A. G. F. McDonald Cornwall October 25, 1916
Hundred-fifty-fifth " M. K. Adams Belleville " 17, 1916
Hundred-fifty-sixth " T. C. D. Bedell Brockville " 17, 1916
Hundred-fifty-seventh " D. H. McLaren Barrie, Ont " 17, 1916
Hundred-fifty-eighth " C. Milne Vancouver November 13, 1916
Hundred-fifty-ninth " E. F. Armstrong Haileybury October 31, 1916
Hundred-sixtieth " A. Weir Walkerton, Ont " 17, 1916
Hundred-sixty-first " H. B. Combe Clinton, Ont " 30, 1916
Hundred-sixty-second " J. Arthurs Parry Sound " 30, 1916
Hundred-sixty-third " H. Desrosiers Montreal November 27, 1916
Hundred-sixty-fourth " P. Domville Milton, Ont April 11, 1916
Hundred-sixty-fifth " L. C. D'Aigle Moncton March 28, 1916
Hundred-sixty-sixth " W. G. Mitchell Toronto October 12, 1916
Hundred-sixty-seventh " O. Readman Quebec [1]
Hundred-sixty-eighth " W. T. McMullin Woodstock October 3, 1916
Hundred-sixty-ninth " J. G. Wright Toronto " 17, 1916
Hundred-seventieth " L. Reed " " 25, 1916
Hundred-seventy-first " Sir W. Price Quebec November 23, 1916
Hundred-seventy-second " J. R. Vickers Kamloops, B. C. October 25, 1916
Hundred-seventy-third " W. H. Bruce Hamilton, Ont November 13, 1916
Hundred-seventy-fourth " H. F. Osler Winnipeg April 29, 1917
Hundred-seventy-fifth " N. Spencer Medicine Hat October 3, 1916
Hundred-seventy-sixth " D. Sharpe St. Catherines April 29, 1917
Hundred-seventy-seventh " J. B. McFee Simcoe, Ont May 3, 1917
Hundred-seventy-eighth " L. de la B. Girouard Victoriaville March 3, 1917
Hundred-seventy-ninth " J. Y. Reid Winnipeg October 3, 1916
Hundred-eightieth " R. H. Green Toronto November 13, 1916
Hundred-eighty-first " H. B. Combe Brandon, Man April 18, 1917
Hundred-eighty-second " A. A. Cockburn Whitby May 3, 1917
Hundred-eighty-third " W. T. Edgecomb Winnipeg October 3, 1916
Hundred-eighty-fourth " W. H. Sharpe Lisgar, Man " 31, 1916
Hundred-eighty-fifth " F. P. Day Halifax " 12, 1916
Hundred-eighty-sixth Major Neil Smith Chatham, Ont March 28, 1917
Hundred-eighty-seventh Lt. Col. G. W. Robinson Red Deer December 15, 1916
Hundred-eighty-eighth " C. J. Donaldson Prince Albert October 12, 1916
Hundred-eighty-ninth " A. Piuze Frazerville September 9, 1916
Hundred-ninetieth " G. K. Watson Winnipeg May 3, 1917
Hundred-ninety-first " W. G. Bryan McLeod, Alta March 28, 1917
Hundred-ninety-second Captain H. E. Lyon Blairmore, Alta October 31, 1916
Hundred-ninety-third Lt. Col. J. Stanfield Truro, N. S " 12, 1916
Hundred-ninety-fourth " W. C. Craig Edmonton November 13, 1916
Hundred-ninety-fifth " A. C. Gomer Regina October 31, 1916
Hundred-ninety-sixth " D. S. Mackay Camp Hughes " 31, 1916
Hundred-ninety-seventh " H. G. Fonseca Winnipeg January 23, 1917
Hundred-ninety-eighth " J. A. Cooper Toronto March 28, 1917
Hundred-ninety-ninth " P. J. Trihey Montreal December 15, 1916
Two-hundredth " A. L. Bonnycastle Winnipeg May 3, 1917
Two-hundred-first " E. W. Hagarty Disbanded
Two-hundred-second " T. E. Bowen Edmonton November 23, 1916
Two-hundred-third " J. E. Hansford Winnipeg October 26, 1916
Two-hundred-fourth " W. H. Price Toronto March 23, 1917
Two-hundred-fifth " R. R. Moodie Hamilton [2]
Two-hundred-sixth " T. Pagnuelo Montreal [3]
Two-hundred-seventh " C. W. McLean Ottawa June 2, 1917
Two-hundred-eighth " T. H. Lennox Toronto March 21, 1917
Two-hundred-ninth " W. O. Smyth Swift Current October 31, 1917
Two-hundred-tenth " W. E. Seaborn Moosejaw. Sask April 11, 1917
Two-hundred-eleventh " W. M. Sage Vancouver December 15, 1916
Two-hundred-twelfth " E. C. Pitman Winnipeg [4]
Two-hundred-thirteenth " B. J. McCormick St. Catherines [4]
Two-hundred-fourteenth " J. H. Hearn Wadena, Sask April 18, 1917
Two-hundred-fifteenth " H. E. Snider Brantford " 29, 1917
Two-hundred-sixteenth " F. L. Burton Toronto " 18, 1917
Two-hundred-seventeenth " A. B. Gillis Moosomin, Sask June 2, 1917
Two-hundred-eighteenth " J. K. Cornwall Victoria February 17, 1917
Two-hundred-nineteenth " W. H. Muirhead Halifax October 12, 1916
Two-hundred-twentieth " B. H. Brown Toronto April 29, 1917
Two-hundred-twenty-first " M. McMeans Winnipeg " 18, 1917
Two-hundred-twenty-second " J. Lightfoot " November 13, 1916
Two-hundred-twenty-third " H. Albrechsten " May 3, 1917
Two-hundred-twenty-fourth " A. McDougall Ottawa " 19, 1916
Two-hundred-twenty-fifth " J. Mackay Fernie, B. C January 25, 1917
Two-hundred-twenty-sixth " R. A. G. Gillespie Dauphin, Man December 15, 1916
Two-hundred-twenty-seventh " C. H. Le P. Jones Hamilton April 11, 1917
Two-hundred-twenty-eighth " A. Earchman North Bay February 16, 1917
Two-hundred-twenty-ninth " H. D. Pickett Moosejaw April 18, 1917
Two-hundred-thirtieth " R. de Salaberry Brockville January 23, 1917
Two-hundred-thirty-first " F. E. Leach Vancouver April 11, 1917
Two-hundred-thirty-second " R. P. Laurie Battleford " 18, 1917
Two-hundred-thirty-third " E. Leprohon Winnipeg [5]
Two-hundred-thirty-fourth " W. Wallace Toronto April 18, 1917
Two-hundred-thirty-fifth " S. B. Scobel Belleville May 3, 1917
Two-hundred-thirty-sixth " P. A. Guthrie Fredericton November 9, 1917
Two-hundred-thirty-seventh " Rev. C. S. Bullock Sussex [6]
Two-hundred-thirty-eighth " W. R. Smith Valcartier September 11, 1916
Two-hundred-thirty-ninth Major V. L. MacDonald " December 15, 1916
Two-hundred-fortieth Lt. Col. E. J. Watt Renfrew May 3, 1917
Two-hundred-forty-first " W. L. McGregor Windsor April 29, 1917
Two-hundred-forty-second " J. B. White Montreal November 23, 1916
Two-hundred-forty-third " J. E. Bradshaw Prince Albert June 2, 1917
Two-hundred-forty-fourth " E. M. McRobie Montreal March 28, 1917
Two-hundred-forty-fifth " C. C. Ballantyne " May 3, 1917
Two-hundred-forty-sixth " N. H. Parson Halifax June 2, 1917
Two-hundred-forty-seventh " C. H. Ackerman Peterboro [7]
Two-hundred-forty-eighth " J. H. Rorke Owen Sound June 2, 1917
Two-hundred-forty-ninth " C. B. Keenlyside Regina February 21, 1918
Two-hundred-fiftieth " W. H. Hastings Winnipeg [8]
Two-hundred-fifty-first " G. H. Nicholson " October 6, 1917
Two-hundred-fifty-second " J. J. Glass Lindsay June 2, 1917
Two-hundred-fifty-third " P. G. C. Campbell Kingston April 29, 1917
Two-hundred-fifty-fourth " A. P. Allen Belleville June 2, 1917
Two-hundred-fifty-fifth " G. C. Royce Toronto " 2, 1917
Two-hundred-fifty-sixth " W. A. McConnell " March 28, 1917
Two-hundred-fifty-seventh " L. T. Martin Ottawa February 16, 1917
Two-hundred-fifty-eighth " P. E. Blondin Quebec October 6, 1917
No. 1 University Inf. Co Captain P. Molson Montreal May 29, 1915
No. 2 " " " G. C. MacDonald " June 29, 1917
No. 3 " " Lieut. F. L. Turnbull " September 4, 1915
No. 4 " " " J. R. Mitchener " November 27, 1915
No. 5 " " " O. S. Tyndale " April 2, 1916
Yukon Inf. Co Comm. Black Dawson City January 24, 1917
No. 1 Jewish Inf. Co Captain I. Friedman Montreal March 28, 1917
No. 1 Independent Inf. Co Major T.J. Langford Winnipeg October 6, 1917
ORIGINAL OFFICERS OF CAVALRY UNITS
UNIT ORIGINAL OFFICER IN COMMAND MOBILIZED SAILED
R. C. D Lt. Col. C. M. Nelles Toronto October 3, 1914
L. S. H " A. C. MacDonald Winnipeg " 3, 1914
R. N. W. M. P Major C. L. Jennings Regina June 4, 1918
C. M. R. Depot Lt. Col. W. C. Brooks Hamilton Oct. 22, 1917
First C. M. R. Bde " F. O. Sissons Winnipeg June 12, 1915
First Regt. C. M. R " H. J. Stevenson Included in First Brigade " 12, 1915
Second " " "J. C. L. Bott " "12, 1915
Third " " "L. J. Whittaker " "12, 1915
Second C. M. R. Bde Col. C. A. Smart Sherbrooke July 18, 1915
Fourth Regt. C. M. R Lt. Col. S. F. Smith Included in Second Brigade "18, 1915
Fifth " " "G. H. Baker " "18, 1915
Sixth " " "R. H. Ryan " "18, 1915
Seventh " " Major E. I. Leonard London, Ont June 29, 1915
Eighth " " Lt. Col J. R. Munro Ottawa Oct. 9, 1915
Ninth " " "G. C. Hodson Lloydminster, Sask Nov. 23, 1915
Tenth " " Major F. C Washington Portage la Prairie Apr. 28, 1916
Eleventh " " Lt. Col. G. H. Kirkpatrick Vancouver July 8, 1916
Twelfth " " "G. MacDonald Calgary Oct. 9, 1915
Thirteenth Regt. C. M. R "V. H. Holmes Medicine Hat June 28, 1916
First Can. Div. Cav. Sq. "F. C. Jamieson Valcartier Oct. 3, 1914
Second " " Major H. J. Leonard London, Ont. June 9, 1915
Third " " "T. W. Wright Winnipeg Jan. 22, 1916
Fourth " " Lt. Col. R. A. Carman Portage la Prairie Apr. 28, 1916
A digest of the foregoing tables will indicate the proportionate enlistments in the various sections of the country. Population considered, the West did better than the East.
As to the proportional representation of the various occupations in the enlistments, some light is thrown on that by figures presented by Mr. N. W. Rowell, K. C., in the Ontario Legislature, covering the period of heaviest voluntary enlistment, up to March 1, 1916. Out of a total of 263,111 recruits, 6 per cent, or 16,153 were professional men; 2 per cent, or 6,530, were merchants or men in the employing class; 18 per cent, or 48,777, were clerical workers; 64 per cent, or 170,369, were manual workers; 6 per cent, or 17,044, were farmers; and 1 per cent, or 4,238, were students.
The latter item deserves special mention, in the unusual enthusiasm shown by the students of the Canadian universities. At the end of 1914 McGill University had nearly a hundred of its student body in training on Salisbury Plain, many more were at Exhibition Park, preparing themselves for active service at the front, while others were in different camps throughout the country; 1,800 men were in the Officers' Training Corps, with 80 members of the faculty acting as officers. On March 1, 1915, 307 undergraduates had enlisted. Out of 4,000 registered students there were, at the end of 1915, 811 enlisted men, together with 1,003 graduates and 83 members of the staff.
The University of Toronto, by the end of 1918, was represented by 5,308 men, from its staff, graduates, undergraduates, and its faculty of education, of which 531 were killed. Other Ontario universities were represented by 900 men on active service. At the close of the war it was estimated that about 17,000 college students, or graduates, had enlisted, of which about 1,200 were reported as casualties.