The
Canadian cultural city of Montreal,
Described
as a cosmopolitan place,
Was
the host, on Monday past,
For
day one of a week’s campaign,
To
raise a up to a million dollars.
The
purpose being of this patriotic fund,
Is
the caring for dependents
Of
Canadian men - currently volunteering,
For
war in Europe –
Both
home and abroad, this movement
Is
held up as an illustration,
To
show how Canadian people,
Are
doing their duty.
The
President of the Canadian Pacific,
Sir
Thomas Shaughnessy,
Proudly
presided over the Luncheon,
Of
this fund’s opening day.
Along
with the head
Of
Canada’s, Roman Catholic Church,
The
prelate Archbishop Bruchesi.
Standing
as the main speaker,
He
informed all attendees
Of
current successes of Allied forces.
Such
news raised determined
Enthusiasm,
to support the British
Empire
- to the end.
Whether
the campaign is to be
Long
or short, Canada will provide,
Both
money and men –
But
adding, it would be unlikely,
That
a second army contingent,
Will
be required of Canada – Yet if a call
From
Britain comes, for 75,000
More
men, the response will be,
No
doubt as eager as before.
The
Archbishop states in equal stance,
Declaring,
that whatever race,
All
Canadians owed their loyal support,
To
Great Britain, in the struggle
For
world liberty. And in so doing,
The
Archbishop pledged 1000 dollars
Of
his own monies to the fund.
Upon
that evening of this same Monday,
Members
of Montreal’s Irish people,
Gathered
together, to stand
At
the United Irish League,
To
endorse Mr John Redmond’s stand,
That
all Irish men. must
Rally
to the Empire’s support.
The
Vice President Of the League,
C.F.
Doherty, addressed the assembled,
To
urge all Irishmen,
Across
the world, to support
Great
Britain in the war's just cause.
By
this very act would be erased
Any
English suspicion of Irish Loyalty.
In
a show of resolution,
The
Irish Leaguers started to sing;
‘God
Save the King.’
The
singing reported as enthusiastic.
The
contingent of Canadian troops,
At
Valcartier Camp are proceeding
With
all preparations... (Pause-
For
the mark of a censor’s excision).
The
Duke of Connaught has reviewed.
The
30,000 strong Canadian men,
Who
proudly presented themselves
As
business like - ready for service,
And
perhaps like mustard -
Keen
to get to the European fight.
by
Jamie Mann.
Anon.,1914.
Canada’s Loyalty-‘To the End’. The Daily Telegraph, [online] 16 Sept.
p.4. Col.6. Available at:
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/ww1-archive/11077911/Daily-Telegraph-September-16-1914.html
[Accessed: 16th September 2014].
Mann, J., 2014. 100
years Ago - Poems by Jamie Mann. [letter] (Personal communication, 16
September 2014).
#WW1
#WW1centenary #GreatWar #WW1poem #GreatWar #ww1centenary #worldwarone
#worldwaroneremembered
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