World War, 1914-1918 -- Canada; World War, 1914-1918 -- Nova Scotia
On August 4, 1914, No. 4 Detachment was officered by five officers of
the Canadian Permanent Army Service Corps, two attached officers of the
Active Militia, and one officer of the Imperial Army Service Corps,
attached. The Detachment was administered by Major E. C. Dean, who was
attached to the Staff of Military District No. 6 as an Assistant
Director of Supplies and Transport (now Lieut.-Colonel E. C. Dean,
Senior Supply and Transport Officer, attached to the Staff of M.D. No.
6). He was also Commandant of the Canadian Army Service Corps School of
Training. In command of the Detachment was Major R. O. Marks, an officer
of the Imperial Army Service Corps, temporarily loaned to the Canadian
Sister Corps. He was also Adjutant of the School of Training. The other
officers of the Permanent Force were Lieut. H. O. Lawson (now Major
Lawson, Senior Supply and Transport Officer, M.D. No. 3, Kingston,
Ontario); Lieut. Keith MacDougall (now Major MacDougall, in charge of
No. 6 Detachment, R.C.A.S.C.); Lieut. J. A. Gwynne (who proceeded
Overseas as Adjutant of the Second Divisional Train); and Lieut., now
Capt., George Simms, District Barracks Officer—a most efficient,
hard-working officer, whose capability went a long way towards making
possible the quartering and comfort of many thousands of troops in the
Maritime Provinces. The splendid services rendered by this officer—his
absolute devotion to his arduous duties, his zeal and tireless efforts
in behalf of the C.E.F., and, at the same time, his careful supervision
of all matters pertaining to the financial interests of the public
purse—are well worthy of recognition.
The two attached officers of the Active Militia were Lieut. (now Major)
H. R. Hendy, of Esquimalt, B.C., and Capt. H. J. B. Keating, of No. 6
Company, Canadian Army Service Corps. Captain Keating is now stationed
at Quebec.
The rank and file of the Detachment numbered less than fifty—scarcely
sufficient to care for the needs of Halifax Garrison in peace time. The
available transport comprised about a half-dozen horses, two time-worn
Ford passenger cars, two steamboats, and a “dumb” lighter. Practically
the whole of the land transport was carried out by horses and wagons
under a civilian contractor—Mr. George E. VanBuskirk.
The Supply Depot, including grocery store, bakery, and meat shop, was
located within the confines of Glacis Barracks—the headquarters of the
Army Service Corps at Halifax—in a small brick building which, under the
regime of the Imperials, had been used as a school for the senior
children of Imperial soldiers in garrison at Halifax. Under peace
conditions this building was inadequate for the purposes for which it
was used, and, needless to say, under war demands its continuance as
such was out of the question. All flour, bread, groceries, meat, and
other supplies, had to be taken in and out of one small door.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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