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 for, 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 Mar. 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 Apr. 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 Oct. 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 Dec. 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