The First World War
An RCR Officer's Diary 1914-1918

OCTOBER, NOVEMBER, DECEMBER 1914

OCTOBER 1914

The Regiment was the highest paid Corps which had ever been stationed in the Island and the shopkeepers promptly took advantage of it as "soldier prices" quite equalled those for the American tourist.

On Oct 1st the four provisional companies were split up and the battalions was reorganized into eight companies.

This caused much confusion and endless work in the readjustment of stores, etc.

Captain Law returned to Canada on 3 months sick leave at the beginning of the month, and Lt Alexander at the end of the month on appointment as Adjutant of 24th Bn C.E.F. Victoria Rifles of Canada.

Fifteen men of [the] Valcartier Draft were returned to Canada for discharge as worthless.

On 13th of October, Field Marshal His Royal Highness The Duke of Connaught & Strathearn K.G., K.T., K.P., etc. Governor and Commander-in-Chief of Canada was appointed Honorary Colonel of the Regiment.

NOVEMBER 1914

On November 3rd war was declared on Turkey on account of her having bought certain German cruisers which had sought refuge from our fleet in her harbours and failing to dismiss their German crews.

"G" Co. under Capt Hoad moved from Prospect to Warwick for Company Training on 3rd.

On 9th Lt Ryan, the Bandmaster, who had been ill for some months, arrived from Halifax.

On arrival in Bermuda it was found that hardly any of the Valcartier draft had been attested. Instructions were therefore received for the men to be enlisted in the Regiment for 3 years at permanent Force rates of pay. This the men refused to do.

Later instructions were received that the men could be enlisted for the duration of the war plus six months, or for one year should the war cease before that time. Permanent Force rates of pay would be paid while in Bermuda and overseas rates of pay on leaving Bermuda for Europe.

The men still refused to take on, on the stand that they had volp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;</map><img>