Note 1 — Chapter I · CARTIER AND THE ST. LAWRENCE

Colonel George Nasmith in his book, “On the Fringe of the Great Fight,” tells of the departure of this first contingent of the Canadian Expeditionary Force in the autumn of 1914 within six weeks of the outbreak of the Great War.

“Imperceptibly the pier and the lights of the city receded and we steamed down the mighty St. Lawrence to our trysting place on the sea. The second morning afterwards we woke to find ourselves riding quietly at anchor in the sunny harbour of Gaspé with all the other transports about us, together with four long grey gunboats, our escort upon the road to our great adventure.... Never before had there been gathered together a fleet of transports of such magnitude—a fleet consisting of 33 transports carrying 33,000 men, 7,000 horses, and all the motors, wagons, and equipment necessary to place in the field not only a complete infantry division and a cavalry brigade, but in addition to provide for the necessary reserves.”