Canada Automatically entered WWI as part of the British Empire Canada Goes to War Canada Automatically entered WWI as part of the British Empire

Canada offered aid immediately Prime Minister Robert Borden offered a force of 25,000 trained and equipped men to the war effort Even Laurier, the official opposition, said that “Canadians [were] behind the Mother Country” of Britain (p.32). Volunteers were asked for, and were offered $1 per day 10, 000 men volunteered almost immediately The army swelled from 3,000 to more than 30,000 soldiers when Canada joined the war

Canada offered aid immediately 80% of the August 1914 volunteers who claimed to have had military training in fact had none. Their eagerness to fight and serve seemed to be enough

Volunteerism People volunteered due to a sense of patriotism. devotion/support for one’s country; national love The war seemed like a “great adventure,” and was romantic because warfare had not been seen in generations There was no understanding of the devastating losses and hardships to come Everyone believed that this war would be short, and the “boys” fighting would be home by Christmas.

Training the Troops Sir Sam Hughes (Minister of Militia) was given the enormous task of training and supplying the troops Uniforms, weapons, rations etc War profiteering was an issue (p.34) He was known as an energetic, albeit inefficient organizer Prone to awarding contracts based on patronage and cronyism

The Ross Rifle Troops were issued with the Canadian-made Ross Rifle Great for hunting, it was known to jam after rapid fire Began to be called “the Canadian club” Soldiers soon took to discarding their Ross Rifles in preference for the weapons of fallen allies (like the Lee-Enfield carried by the British )

Basic Training Camp Valcartier in Quebec was built in only four weeks to house and train Canada’s soldiers. After only four months, Canada’s enthusiastic, but ill-prepared young men were sent on to England, and from there, to the front line in France

CEF Canadian troops were kept together and formed the Canadian Expeditionary Force (CEF). The CEF was kept together rather than being integrated into the larger (and far more experienced) British army Important to Canada’s sense of national identity and pride, and its autonomy