Envy of Their Good Fortune

Several battalions of the C.E.F. were destined to be “reinforcing” battalions whose members trained in a battalion in Canada and then were used in reinforcing drafts to replenish other battalions. Since many of these battalions were many were locally/regionally raised with volunteers and then formed as a unit it must have been hard to be dispatched to make up losses in other battalions.

The 76th Battalion was formed from a pretty wide ranging geographical area:

It was raised from fifteen militia units of the second divisional area, outside of Toronto, including the Halton Rifles. It recruited in Niagara Falls, Hamilton, St Catharines, Milton, Parry Sound, Own Sound, Brantford, Simcoe, Sudbury, Dundas, Sault Ste Marie, Orillia, Collingwood, Whitby and Barrie.

The 76th Bn in training 1915 via Matt Monkman. Additional information from a blog comment by Matt Monkman: “The 76th Btn photo is actually from my personal collection, I had posted it years ago on another site after it was restored. The photo was taken in Cookstown, ON by my Great Grandmother. My Great Grandfather and Great Uncle were in the 76th before joining the 4th Btn overseas. The troops seen are marching East on what is now known as Hwy 89. The Btn had set up camp on the fairgrounds for a few days before splitting up for Barrie, Collingwood and Orillia. The buildings on the right still stand today.”

At the same time these men were formed into platoons and began relationships. On August 1st, 1915 this Battalion got word that a reinforcing draft was to be drawn from the Battalion. The excerpt below comes from the 76th’s Nominal Roll and History and hi-lights the tone of the soldiers towards the idea of service. At this time the publication date of the History cannot be determined but the ethos of service, duty, honour come out very strongly in the words and phrases in bold:

RE-INFORCING DRAFT FOR OVERSEAS

On August 1st, word was received from Headquarters that the 76th was to supply a draft for re-inforcing the Overseas Battalions of 5 Lieutenants, 8 Sergeants, 2 Buglers, 8 Corporals and 232 Rank and File, a total of 255 all ranks.

Though the O.C. would have greatly preferred to have taken his Battalion overseas intact, yet the need of fresh drafts of men to fill up vacancies caused by casualties was so great, that steps were at once taken to select, train and equip the quota asked for. Lieutenants H. C. Young, W. O. Brown, W. H. Fair, A. C. Bowles and C. E. H. Thomas were selected by Colonel Ballantine as Officers of the Draft, but owing to the resignation of Lieut. W. H. Fair, the name of Lieut. N. Nicholson was submitted in his place and accepted, and after two months strenuous training, the Draft left Camp for England on Thursday, Sept. 30th.

The previous night was one long to be remembered. At half-past four the draft paraded and were addressed by the Camp Chaplain, who presented a Bible to each man. At supper they were the honoured guests of the Battalion, objects alike of keen solicitude for their physical welfare, and of envy of their good fortune. The good wishes of the Colonel, Officers and Men of the 76th were conveyed to them with considerable feeling by the Colonel, who, in the course of his remarks, said, “You are going overseas to be the vanguard and, for a while, the representatives of the 76th Battalion, and you have in your keeping the honour and the good name of this, one of the best Battalions in Canada. This honour and good name is something that cannot be bought save at the cost of personal effort and sacrifice. Into your keeping we entrust it as you go to “The Front,” and we who are left behind will do all in our power to raise the standard of the Battalion still higher if possible. When you are called on to fight, fight hard, and may God in His love and mercy guide you through all.”

The evening was spent in various forms of amusement, a perambulation of the Camp being a leading feature, and next morning saw the Draft embark for Toronto and “Further,” leaving us a little sad, a trifle jealous because we were not going for a while.

They were a fine body of officers and men, and will undoubtedly play their part with credit to the Battalion whence they were drafted.

On arriving at Toronto they were met by the Chaplain who wished them God speed and said good-bye as they entrained for Quebec.

Source: Pages 37 and 38 of Historical Record of the 76^th O.S. Battalion C.E.F.