https://archive.org/stream/calltoarmsmontre00sanduoft/calltoarmsmontre00sanduoft_djvu.txtMontreal Home Guard
The Home Guard movement in Montreal was one of the most interesting
developments of the home defence preparations. Montreal claims no credit as
having been the first city in the Dominion to inaugurate the Home Guard move-
ment. Montreal is entitled to the credit, however, of being the first city in the
Dominion to bring the idea to a successful issue. In the early stages of the
European conflict when rumors were rife of the probability of Americo-German
raids on Canada from over the border line of the United States, the Home
Guard idea made its appearance in several places at the same time. There were
not lacking large numbers of business men beyond the middle age who felt it
their duty to prepare themselves for the defence of their homes, should such
defence become necessary, but were not, for various reasons, able to ally them-
selves with any of the established militia corps. Their thoroughly worthy in-
tentions, and the Home Guard idea itself, received something of a set-back,
however, when the Militia authorities frankly declared that every available
rifle in the country and every rifle which could be produced, was needed to pro-
vide the contingents being raised for Overseas Service and for the use of the
established Militia Regiments throughout the Dominion. It was at this point
that Montreal succeeded where the Home Guard in other places languished.
Mr. J. N. Greenshields, K.C. gave a fillip to the movement by the simple
suggestion that every member enrolling in the Home Guard of Montreal should
provide himself with a rifle. There were rifles to be obtained elsewhere outside of the
Dominion. It needed money to buy them. The Militia Department, up to its
eyes in work with the regulars, had no money nor rifles for Home Guards. The
only solution was for the Home Guardsmen to furnish the money themselves.
And they did.
A committee including some of the most influential business men of Montreal
was organised and through their efforts the Home Guard of Montreal became an
accomplished fact. Recruits came forward in large numbers, agreeing to furnish
the wherewithal to equip themselves with rifles and such other accoutrements as
might be decided on.
The committee in charge of the arrangements for the Home Guard was
made up as follows: J. N. Greenshields, K.C., chairman; Lieut.-Col. Geo.
Starke, Lieut.-Col. Hutchison, Robert Bickerdike, M.P., R. J. Dale, A. J. Brown,
K.C., E. L. Pease, E. C. Pratt, P. P. Cowans, D. C. Macarow, John D. Oppe,
William Lyall, J. W. Pyke, David Law, H. W. Beauclerk, F. W. Tofield, Dr.
Milton L. Hersey, D. Gallery, F. L. Wanklyn, and Alexander Warden, Secretary.
