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The Canadian Army on Ashdown Forest in WW1 Canada’s constitutional position within the British Empire dictated that if Britain declared war on any country, Canada was also at war. On 1 August 1914 the Governor General, Field Marshall H.R.H. the Duke of Connaught cabled, “that if unhappily war should ensue the Canadian people will be united in a common resolve to put forth every effort and to make every sacrifice necessary to ensure the integrity and maintain the honour of our Empire”. Plans had already been drawn up for the recruitment of more troops and the summons sent out on 6 August 1914 by the Minister of Militia had named the place for mobilization as Valcartier, sixteen miles north east of Quebec city. The first volunteers reached the new camp on 18 August, and by 8 September 1914 the strength was 32,665. Prince Arthur, Duke of Connaught 1915 While the troops of the first contingent were being recruited , the British Government had gratefully accepted an offer of four additional Canadian units of 1000 men each. However three provinces failed to raise the men. Captain A. Hamilton Gault, a Montreal veteran of the South African War, offered to raise an infantry battalion of ex soldiers and to contribute $100.000 towards the cost. The battalion named the Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry after Her Royal Highness, the daughter of the Governor General, was speedily recruited in Ottawa, its ranks being filled by veterans from all parts of Canada. Three weeks from the date of its authorisation the regiment was ready to sail and it embarked at Montreal on 28 August 1914. Admiralty convoy restrictions held the unit impatiently in Canada, and it crossed with the First Contingent on 3 October 1914. The crossing lasted 12 days and the first transports entered Plymouth Sound at 7.00am. on 14 October 1914 and thirty six hours later the Admiralty reported all safe in harbour. After a tremendous welcome by the people of Plymouth and messages from Lord Kitchener and the Mayor of Plymouth the troops proceeded by rail for a seven hour journey, followed by a march of eleven miles to their camp on Salisbury Plain. There were no permanent barracks for the troops and the weather was dreadful. Mud was everywhere and Christmas 1914 found 11,000 Canadians still under canvas. On 4 February an inspection by H. M. the King took place. The Patricias landed in France on 21 December 1914 and entered the line as part of the 80th. Brigade, 27th. Division, on the night of 6-7 January 1915, eight weeks before the First Canadian Division was committed to action.

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The Canadian Army in Sussex

The first day of February 1915 saw the formation of the Canadian Cavalry Brigade from the Royal Canadian Horse Artillery, the Royal Canadian Dragoons, Lord Strathcona’s Horse, and the 2nd. King Edward’s Horse ( the second regiment of a unit of the British Special Reserve ). The Cavalry Brigade concentrated near Uckfield in Sussex, under a British Commander, Colonel J.E.B. Seely. The 2nd. King Edward’s Horse Regiment was raised in 1914 and funded by Lt. Colonel John Norton - Griffiths, (later Sir John), who was commissioned with the rank of Major. He had fought in the Boer War and was a Conservative Member of Parliament.

By March 1915 Maresfield Park Army Camp was home to the Royal Canadian Dragoons, Lord Strathcona’s Horse, the Royal Canadian Horse Artillery and the 2nd. King Edward’s Horse. On 4 May 1915 the Dragoons, Strathconas and 2nd. King Edward’s Horse left Buxted by rail to Folkestone and disembarked in Boulogne on 5 May 1915. The Dragoons and the Strathconas fought as a dismounted unit until 27 January 1916, when it was remounted and resumed its cavalry role as part of the 1st. Canadian Cavalry Brigade. Their horses were left at Maresfield Park.

Fancy Dress Spring 1915

Hansard, June 1915 records questions being asked regarding the Royal Canadian Horse

Artillery who were still in Maresfield camp, bitterly disappointed at being left in England. They asked if their 13 pound guns was the reason and could they have 18 pounders. Some of the troops had absented themselves and stowed away to France with other units, only to be discovered and returned to Maresfield camp. A reply from Mr. MacMaster stated “ Is not the real reason for this action that Horse Artillery are usually employed as accessories to Cavalry formations, and when the brigade commanded by General Seely was dismounted and became Infantry the usefulness of Horse Artillery was so lessened”.

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A coroner’s report from East Sussex records dated 3 July 1915 records the accidental death of Gunner Alastair Smith McCallum, Royal Canadian Horse Artillery. He was thrown from his horse while off-duty at Maresfield camp. The Royal Canadian Horse Artillery left the camp on 19 July 1915 by rail from Buxted to Southampton.

13th. Royal Canadian Regiment , C. Squadron Fancy Dress This regiment landed in England in August 1915 and after training left for France in October 1915.

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Lord Strathcona’s Horse Regiment

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The Second Canadian Division arrived in England in the summer of 1915 and began to train at Shornecliffe Camp, Kent. With the expansion of the Canadian Corps to four divisions during 1915/1916 additional training space was required in England. A camp was opened in late 1915 at Bramshott, and in 1916 camps were opened at Crowborough, Hastings, New Shoreham, Seaford and Whitley. A Canadian Machine Gun Training Depot was organized in Crowborough camp on 22 June 1916. The Canadian Military School was established in the autumn of 1916, quickly followed by the Canadian Trench Warfare School. No. 4 Army Troops Canadian Engineers was organized in Crowborough in October 1916. A Canadian Machine Gun Corps Depot on 4 January 1917 in Crowborough. No. 5 Army Troops Canadian Engineers was organized in Crowborough in April 1917. Also on 4 January 1917 a Canadian Post Office was set up to serve the influx of troops. This ceased on 31 July 1917. The General Officer Commanding, Canadians, Crowborough, was Brigadier-General W.S. Hughes.

Brothers Leslie and Cecil Frost came to the Military School from Bramshott in January 1917. (Leslie Frost later served as the 16th. Premier of Canada from 1949 – 1961). Leslie Frost 1916

In letters home to their parents they give details of their stay at Crowborough. Leslie and Cecil began a ten week course at the Military School for advanced infantry training in February 1917. This was followed by a six week course for Cecil at the Machine Gun Training Depot where he was awarded a distinguished mark, one of only four awarded to a class of fifty. The Canadian Engineers Depot was also at Crowborough. Sir Arthur Conan Doyle held receptions for the officers on Sundays in his home, Windlesham Manor. The Crest Hotel. Beacon Road, (later The Winston, now demolished ), was a refuge for many officers. Crest Hotel

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Entertainers including Harry Lauder appeared in the Y.M.C.A. Hut at the camp. After Harry Lauder’s son was killed he gave up his big engagements in London to go to France to sing to the troops, By April 1917 a new 30 yard Machine Gun Range and a Revolver

Range was in use. However complaints from civilians of bullets passing over the range caused it to be temporarily closed down for one week. Daytime and night practice for zeppelin attacks and bomber attacks were carried out. Advanced trench constructions were completed by the Trench Warfare School, and a gas chamber was constructed and used for the first time in April 1917 by 205 other ranks and 14 officers of the Canadian Command. who were due to go to France. On May 10th. 1917 the Duke of Connaught visited the area in the afternoon and made an inspection of the Guard of Honour and presented medals. He inspected the squads at Machine Gun Drill, visited the instructional huts, and officers classes. A drive to the ranges for a demonstration of Indirect Fire followed. The Canadian Military School left Crowborough for Bexhill on March 12th. 1917 and the Canadian Trench Warfare School May 10th. 1917. The Canadian Command demobilised from Crowborough Camp on 31July 1917. Extracts from the Canadian War Diaries

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Photographs The Duke of Connaught. Wikipedia. Leslie Frost. Wikipedia. The Map of Salisbury Plain. The Official History of the Canadian Army in WW1. The Crest Hotel, Crowborough. The Weald Website. Maresfield Park Mick Harker The YMCA Hut, Crowborough Camp. Nigel Woodrow Acknowledgements to The Canadian Army War Diaries and the letters of Leslie and Cecil Frost.

Written by Mollie Smith 2015