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Off to England
Sam Hughes' Valcartier nightmare had been having to decide which of his "boys" should
be sent overseas. He didn't want to leave anyone behind. At the end of September,
1914, Prime Minister Borden made the decision for him. All the able-bodied men
of Valcartier would be sent. Hughes broke down in tears of relief at the news.
Thousands of the First Contingent had already been culled, not by Hughes, but
due to illness, desertion, disgrace, an inability to cope with the military discipline
or because angry wives and mothers had come to collect their runaway sons and
husbands. In the end, 31,000 men marched 25 kilometres from their camp to the
Quebec City Harbour, singing marching songs and "O Canada" or keeping
step with bagpipes as they made their way to the docks.
Tere they found private Canadian ocean liners, newly painted grey and called
into military service, waiting for them. In all, 30 ships were haphazardly filled
with the thousands of |
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soldiers, thousands of nervous horses, tons of baggage
and ammunition and 130,000 bags of flour, which were Canada's gift to Britain
and the war effort. Though Hughes had access to professionals with years of experience
planning such events, he tendered the job to his friend William Price.
The ships sailed out of the harbour, forming a convoy. On October 3, Hughes
addressed the gathered flotilla and told his men that "the world regards
you as a marvel." The ships pressed on eastward towards the war that was
already raging. There was no chance of its being over by Christmas, even though
that is what many a soldier was imagining on the rolling seas. |
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General
Sir Samuel Hughes watch the departure of the Canadian Expeditionary Force
After
a 25-kilometer march from Valcartier, the Canadian Expeditionary Force boarded
30 ships and headed east to England, where their real training began. |
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