Called toArms
Canada joined the Great War on August 4, 1914
when Britain’s ultimatum to Germany to withdraw
its invading forces from Belgium expired. The news
evoked strong patriotic enthusiasm inNewBrunswick,
especially in urban areas. Many put empire before
nation andwere proud to support Britain in its struggle
against Germany. It was widely believed that this
would be a short war and the troops would soon return
home victorious.
Although New Brunswick was a long way from
the battlefields of Europe, the threat of war was not so
distant.Theprovince’sAtlanticandGulfofSt.Lawrence
coasts and shippingwerepotentiallyvulnerable toenemy
raiders and later submarines. The Royal Navy and
Royal Canadian Navy patrolled the coastal waters and
the militia manned fortifications defending the port of
Saint John throughout thewar.
Marshaling the troops for overseas service would
take some time, but New Brunswickers responded
immediately.When, onAugust 6, the federal government
called for volunteers for a first contingent,manymembers
from the province’s militia units and veterans of the
BoerWar came forwardout of a senseof patriotism and/or
duty, or in quest of adventure. InAugust and September,
theytraveledtoCampValcartierinQuebecwherethesefirst
NewBrunswickvolunteers— the “originals”—helped to
form, among other units, the 12th Infantry Battalion and
theDivisional Heavy Battery and AmmunitionColumn.
Bothproceeded toBritain inOctober.
The second contingent also began mobilizing in
October. New Brunswickers responding to this call
formed the 26th New Brunswick Battalion, CEF, the
province’s only infantrybattalion at the front formost of
the war, and the 2ndDivisional AmmunitionColumn.
Both sailed fromSaint John forBritain in June 1915.
