Canadian Military History
Volume 22 Issue 1 Article 2
2013
J.L. Ralston and the First World War The Origins of a Life of Service
Daniel Byers
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Recommended Citation Daniel Byers "J.L. Ralston and the First World War The Origins of a Life of Service." Canadian Military History 22, 1 (2013)
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Daniel Byers
ames Layton Ralston was a major in his later years as a public figure. In Abstract: James Layton Ralston is figure in the military and political particular, the war confirmed in him J well-known in Canadian history for his history of Canada in the first half role as minister of National Defence a notion of concern for and service of the twentieth century. He is during the Second World War. Yet to others, with which Ralston had remembered particularly for his role he had a long and distinguished apparently been raised from an early as minister of National Defence in career before the 1940s. This article age, and to which he was unwilling reconstructs Ralston’s early life, up the Second World War, during which to and especially during the First and perhaps even unable to resist he was forced to resign by Prime World War, when he rose to command responding for the rest of his life. Minister Mackenzie King over his the 85th Battalion (Nova Scotia Little is known about Ralston’s support for conscription for overseas Highlanders). For Ralston the war life before the First World War. He service.1 Yet by the 1940s Ralston confirmed a sense of concern for and was born and raised in Amherst, service to others with which he had already had a long and rich career. He apparently been raised from an early Nova Scotia. His father, Burnett served in the First World War, rising age. A study of his experiences during William Ralston, was a well-known to command the 85th Battalion (Nova the war also tells us much about his businessman, a member of the first Scotia Highlanders). He later headed many strengths of character, and town council in 1889, and he later a Royal Commission that reviewed hints at some of the less positive served a term as mayor. He was also personal traits that would come to veterans’ pensions in the early 1920s, cause him difficulty in later years – the local postmaster for 20 years and was minister of National Defence as well as the origins of his devotion up to and during the First World for four years in the late 1920s, the to veterans, and his views towards War. Ralston’s father’s family had Liberal Party’s finance critic in the conscription that shaped his later come to the area from Scotland in early 1930s, and finance minister for positions as a public figure. the 1820s, and his mother’s family the first ten months of the Second had helped to settle Amherst. Both World War – during which he set in source which describes Ralston’s seem to have been devout Baptists. place the foundations for Canada’s early life. This article reconstructs Ralston preserved one account of his financing of that war.2 Ralston’s early career from these paternal great-grandfather walking Despite Ralston’s place in these various sources, and highlights his for several days across Nova Scotia events, little is known about his participation in the First World War. with a friend to attend the Church’s background, and what motivated As a study of these years reveals, the Maritime Convention in 1838. His him as a public figure. His papers war had a major impact on Ralston maternal grandfather had also been a in Ottawa contain little material of a and his family, in the same way it prominent deacon in Amherst’s First personal nature. All that has tended dominated the lives of hundreds of Baptist Church, and for many years to be reviewed in any detail is a set of thousands of other Canadians. For his mother was business manager of letters that he and his brother wrote Ralston, especially, his experiences Tidings, the official magazine of the home to their parents during the tell us much about his many strengths Women’s Missionary Aid Society of First World War.3 There is more to of character, while they also hint at the Maritime provinces.4 be gleaned from this correspondence some of the less positive personal As G.A. Rawlyk notes in his study and this is not the only available traits that would cause him difficulty of Maritime Baptists in this period,
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local adherents had responded to The city had been established to challenges to the relevance of support trade, and as a military religion that were created by garrison and naval base, and Charles Darwin’s theories on had flourished in times of evolution by emphasizing a conflict on the north Atlantic, broader Christian duty to including the US Civil War. serve society.5 Ralston’s Its fortunes began to fade in behaviour later in life, the late 1800s, along with both personally and the rest of the Maritimes, publicly, indicates that as steam replaced sail he was raised in this with Montreal and tradition. For example, New York attracting he was among the the most lucrative fast first members of the shipping services, and Halifax Rotary Club Confederation and when it was created the national policy of in 1913, in the early John A. Macdonald days of the international drew economic activity organization that still away to central Canada. today advocates “Service British rapprochement Above Self.” In 1921 he with the United States to joined James Davidson, a meet increasing challenges fellow Rotarian from Calgary, in Europe then drew away the on a four-month trip to help Royal Navy in 1904, when the spread the movement to Australia naval yard closed, and the British and New Zealand. He remained Army garrison, the last in Canada, active in Rotary for the rest of his life.6 soon followed in 1905-6. Yet Halifax Ralston’s private correspondence began to experience a revival. It also hints at his father’s hopes (and became a local industrial centre, and perhaps pressures) that his oldest Layton Ralston with his newborn a commercial centre for goods being son, Stuart, circa 1908. son would go on to greater success Library and Archives Canada (LAC) e10994318 shipped to and from other parts of than he had in public life.7 This again Canada.13 By 1911, it was the eighth seems to have ingrained into Ralston largest city in the country, with a the importance of public service. unsuccessful.11 He was later elected as population of 46,619, having grown “Layton,” as his family knew a provincial MLA for the same district 14 percent in the previous decade. him, was born in 1881, the first of four in 1911, and re-elected in a wartime The total population, including its sons, and was educated at the local campaign in 1916. By 1911, Ralston surrounding county, was 80,257.14 Amherst Academy, before studying was considering leaving Amherst for The rising prosperity of Halifax law at Dalhousie University. He the greater opportunities that seemed offered many opportunities for a became a partner in his uncle’s law to be offered in the Canadian West. young and hard-working lawyer firm in Amherst in 1903, and married But ultimately his sense of duty to his such as Ralston. The practice of law Nettie McLeod in 1907.8 Nettie was family, his friends and his community in most of Canada at the time was also from Amherst, and Ralston had influenced his decision to remain in largely conducted with little to no known her since childhood.9 The Nova Scotia. In 1912, Ralston moved formal training, and was reserved couple’s first and only child, Stuart, to the provincial centre of Halifax to a relatively small and close-knit was born the following year.10 By the to join his life-long friend Charles group of men. The establishment beginning of the 1900s, Layton had (“Charlie”) Burchell, along with the of the Dalhousie University Law entered the political scene, running to province’s former attorney-general School in 1883, however, was a replace his uncle as the federal Liberal and the city’s current federal Liberal harbinger of change.15 As part of the MP for the local riding of Cumberland MP, A.K. Maclean, to form one of the first generation of professionally- in 1908. Unfortunately, this election more important law firms in the city.12 trained Dalhousie graduates, Ralston saw one-third of Nova Scotia’s seats The Halifax to which Ralston possessed skills and knowledge shift from Liberal to Conservative came as a 31-year-old lawyer in 1912 that were highly sought after by control and Layton’s bid was was experiencing a time of transition. the Halifax business community.16 https://scholars.wlu.ca/cmh/vol22/iss1/24 2 : J.L. Ralston and the First World War The Origins of a Life of Service
By 1914 Ralston was on his way himself and his family. Thus he took his parents were quite concerned to becoming a prominent figure in on many additional responsibilities. when Ivan chose to enlist with Halifax. In one week in February 1915, for the Canadian Grenadier Guards, a Just as Ralston’s life was example, he did two hours of military Montreal militia regiment, in October becoming relatively established on drill with the 1914. Yet, as Ivan explained in a the personal front, however, the letter to his father, he was not simply First World War broke out. He was getting caught up in events, but almost 34 years old and, with a wife taking part out of the sense of duty and son and no military training or instilled by his parents. “If the call experience, he did not follow the comes,” he noted, “I feel that you will lead of many Canadians and rush be proud that I am ready to take my off to volunteer. Instead, he went share of the burden.”23 Ivan trained through several agonizing months with the Canadian Grenadier of doubt as he sought to serve both Guards over the winter of 1914- his family and his community. As 1915, and then joined the newly- he noted in a letter to his parents formed 60th Battalion, which was in November 1914, he could afford connected with the Victoria Rifles to volunteer since doing so would of Canada, as a captain in command not put other people out of work, or of “B” Company in mid-1915. He unduly harm his family’s financial went overseas with the battalion in situation. And he saw that such a November.24 decision would provide leadership The second development that to others, while at the same time influenced Ralston’s decision to he worried that remaining at home volunteer was a movement by might make him seem afraid to prominent Nova Scotians to raise serve. Yet he also sensed that public Layton’s wife Nettie, in one of her few a Scottish-style highland battalion sentiment was tending to hasten surviving photographs, at the beginning to represent the province in the of the 1930s. LAC e10859106 people into service, and, as he put burgeoning national military effort. it, “I am not going to let myself be Given his social position in Halifax, stampeded into wronging Nettie COTC, while serving as chairman of Ralston felt that he could no longer and Stuart for whose comfort and his local church’s musical committee, justify his decision not to serve. “I happiness I am responsible, unless working on two court trials, attending am afraid,” he wrote to his parents, the other duty is in truth the greater sittings of the Nova Scotia provincial “that people are beginning to think one.”17 assembly, preparing two separate that those who are in more or less Still, Ralston tried to satisfy both speeches for the Halifax Rotary Club public positions and who should be impulses by training in the fall of 1914 and the city’s Board of Trade, and preaching by example are content as a civilian member of the Dalhousie readying himself to participate in a to…suggest with much fervour that University contingent of the Canadian debate at the local Canadian Club. everybody but themselves should Officers’ Training Corps.18 The COTC By chance he found himself arguing go.”25 The 85th Battalion began had been founded just before the against the need for conscription as recruiting in September 1915, and war to provide military training to part of Canada’s war effort.21 within a few weeks was 200 men students in Canadian universities. Two events seem to have finally over strength. It was so successful It expanded rapidly after August brought Ralston to volunteer for that military officials soon authorized 1914, and many members of the overseas service. The first was supporters to raise a full highland general public joined contingents.19 the decision of his brother Ivan to brigade of four battalions.26 Ralston earned certificates qualifying volunteer. Ivan was also trained as Like his brother, Layton became him for the rank of lieutenant and a lawyer, and had found his way a captain involved in raising and then captain at the Royal School of to Montreal a few years before the training one of the unit’s companies. Infantry in Halifax in the summer war to work for the Montreal Trust His organizational skills and capacity of 1915.20 Company. At 25 years old, he was for work were recognized early on by Ralston’s letters in this period also the youngest of the four Ralston his superiors, and by February 1916 he suggest how his sense of duty led him brothers, and had suffered a back had become the battalion’s adjutant, to respond to what he felt were the injury playing football in his earlier a position second in importance only needs of the community, over those of years.22 As a result, both Layton and to the battalion commander. Layton
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was responsible for supervising the Layton and his 85th Battalion daily routine within the unit, as well were sent to France in February 1917. as discipline and training, and In his first months as the battalion ensuring that orders delivered adjutant, he showed signs of from higher authorities were worrying excessively over his carried out. As historian duties. As Ivan commented Kenneth Radley concludes in in one letter, Layton was describing such duties, the “probably as busy as he adjutant was essentially the can be thinking that the “chief executive officer” whole war depends on him of a First World War working until midnight battalion.27 Layton seemed instead of a respectable to be a good choice for the hours [sic].”35 A few weeks position, and in October later, Ivan added: 1916 he went overseas in that role with the 85th, He and I have some great almost exactly a year after arguments as to his duties. Ivan had left Canada.28 He practically runs the whole Ivan led the way in battalion and seems to think establishing the Ralston that he is supposed to do so. family’s reputation in France. I told him yesterday that his As Layton reported after he principal work seemed to be reached England in January to keep the Colonel from having 1917, “I have met a number of anything to worry about.36 officers from his regiment and they all seem to think a good deal of Layton does seem to have learned Ivan. One of the chaps was one of his to relax and delegate some of his seconds in command and told me that responsibilities over the next few he would go with Ivan anywhere.” months. After the 85th reached the Layton later added that “The more I Ivan Ralston before the First World War. front lines in France, Ivan noted that hear of him from outside the prouder LAC e10994314 I am of him. Everybody has a good I am glad to say that Layton is taking word for him and some people have for 48 hours until he knew that time to get lots of fun out of things. even two good words.”29 In early the position was secure.31 He went I was over one night last week and June 1916, Ivan had been made acting on leave to England a few weeks found him watching a baseball game. second-in-command of his battalion, later, and King George V pinned After the game finished we had a an appointment that likely saved his the medal on him in a ceremony couple of hours chat. Then a few days life, as the four remaining officers in at Buckingham Palace. Like many later he was riding by here to see his company died during the Battle other soldiers he downplayed his one of their officers in hospital, and I of Mount Sorrel in the Ypres Salient. accomplishments, arguing that he had went with him. I prevailed upon him Ivan was slightly wounded in the been singled out simply for enduring to stay here for dinner.37 hand by a shell fragment at around what every soldier experienced on the same time. In writing home to the Western Front, and that if he Arguably, Layton’s later success his parents, he acknowledged that deserved recognition then so did as a battalion commander was at he had been wounded once before, every person in his company.32 In least partly due to his ability to but not seriously enough to formally fact, the entire 60th Battalion was adopt this less anxious attitude report it.30 specifically recognized by the army towards his duties. In January 1918, In August 1916 Ivan was awarded commander for its performance at when he attended the same Senior the Military Cross for his actions Hill 60, as a result of the actions of Officers’ Course that Ivan had taken while helping to halt a German Ivan’s company.33 In early 1917 he a year earlier, he made a point of attack on Hill 60 in the same Ypres was sent to London to take the Senior leaving camp every weekend to sector. According to the citation, he Officers’ Course, to prepare him to visit London and spend time going was “twice buried by shell fire… take command of a battalion.34 to shows and sight-seeing with [but] refused to leave the front line” various acquaintances. Although https://scholars.wlu.ca/cmh/vol22/iss1/26 4 : J.L. Ralston and the First World War The Origins of a Life of Service
he took notes on the subjects that 4th Canadian Division as a reserve Ivan looks real well in the dark at least were discussed, he recognized that battalion, to carry out various support and he sounded very well indeed.42 the real lessons of the course came duties. Other Canadian units fell just from sharing ideas and experiences short of capturing some of their final As Ivan described the event in his own with fellow seconds-in-command objectives during the first few hours letter, he was helping to consolidate and commanding officers. As he of the attack on 9 April, and the 85th his 60th Battalion’s positions when he wrote to his parents, “Practically all was ordered to complete the task by ran into a party of men and “asked [participants] have been to France for attacking the right flank of Hill 145. who they were. To my surprise it periods extending from 3-4 months They did so against heavy opposition, was Layton who answered…I went to 6 months and all with ideas to capturing the height where the Vimy up to him but strange to say for exchange. The benefit to be derived Memorial now stands.41 some minutes he didn’t recognize is as much from the conferences as The Ralston brothers ran into me.” It was not that remarkable for from the Instructors themselves.”38 each other as the 85th was mopping two brothers to run into each other By then, the 85th Battalion had up that evening. In Layton’s words: in the Canadian Corps, even while been fully engaged in operations serving in different units. But for for months as part of the Canadian I was there in the dark when an officer these two men to find each other at Corps. When the unit first arrived in leading a small party came up and that particular moment was certainly France39 it was intended to replace said who are you. I replied with the notable. As Ivan added, “He and I the 73rd Battalion, as part of a plan number. He came close and saw who both had our work and I only had a to reduce the number of units from I was but I didn’t recognize him for ½ second with him.”43 Montreal in the front lines.40 But a minute. I thought the coincidence In the following months, the this could not be done immediately. was remarkable for we two to be two brothers found themselves During the Battle of Vimy Ridge in occupying that line side by side serving side by side on several April 1917, the 85th was attached to neither knowing the other was there. occasions. Layton’s 85th Battalion
Lieutenant-Colonel Layton Ralston (right) talks with Captain A.D. Archibald (on crutches) who lost a leg at Cambrai. Canadian War Museum 19970013-011 Canadian War
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became part of the 4th Division’s 12th and other service personnel, along Lieutenant-Colonel A.H. Borden Brigade soon after Vimy, while Ivan with the men who had been left as commanding officer of the 85th eventually found himself in the 87th out of battle deliberately in case of Battalion as the latter’s health had Battalion of the 11th Brigade, after the heavy casualties, into an improvised apparently deteriorated since the 60th Battalion was broken up in May company to hold the position.50 unit arrived in France.52 At the end 1917 as part of the reorganization of By then, Layton had been of July, Layton proved that even Montreal units.44 They visited each confirmed as second-in-command as the battalion’s commander he other at their respective headquarters of the 85th Battalion, while Ivan was unwilling to remain behind several times,45 and managed to was second-in-command of the the lines. When Lieutenant Cyril schedule leave together in September 87th. At one point, the two brothers Evans failed to return from a raid 1917, during which they visited the found themselves serving as acting on the night of 29/30 July, Layton Scottish highlands and their family’s commanders at the same time.51 led a party, accompanied by another ancestral home. They also shared In late April 1918 Layton replaced officer and a few men from the Christmas dinner in a dugout at the battalion’s Lewis gun section, to front that December.46 search for him. Under fire from trench By mid-1917 Layton was mortars, machine guns, rifles and establishing a reputation of his grenades, Layton entered the wire of own for courage and devotion to the German front lines and rescued duty. According to one staff officer the wounded man. For his actions, with whom Ivan spoke, Layton he was recommended for a Victoria would have been recommended Cross. Higher authorities refused to for an award after Vimy had he not sanction the recommendation, for arrived so recently at the front.47 One the very correct reason that as the soldier in the 85th later remembered unit’s commanding officer he should Layton as being “courageous beyond not have been risking his life in that words,” and deliberately risking way. Yet the incident suggests the his own safety in the face of shells strength of Layton’s loyalty to his and machine gun bullets during men, and his unwillingness to place operations to help calm his men.48 At his own interests (or in this case even the end of June he was recommended his safety) above what he considered for the Distinguished Service Order to be his duty to others.53 for just such leadership, along with Meanwhile, for Ivan things did the tactical skills that he showed not move along quite so well. As a while supervising an attack on the transfer from another unit, he was left town of Eleu dit Leauvette during out of consideration for promotion the operations that followed Vimy. when the commanding officer of the After taking over for the wounded 87th Battalion died of infection from second-in-command of the battalion, a wound in the spring of 1918.54 At he was hit in the arm by a stray shell the same time, Layton had begun to fragment (the first of four battlefield suggest that Ivan join him in the 85th wounds he would suffer during the Battalion. That June, Ivan officially war), but refused to leave the lines became second-in-command to his because the 85th was short of officers. brother, despite previously being Like Ivan, Layton received his DSO senior in rank to Layton.55 Having personally from King George V.49 He two brothers become commanding was also mentioned in despatches for officer and second-in-command of his work at a critical point during the the same unit was not a common Battle of Passchendaele when the 85th occurrence in the Canadian Corps or was facing repeated counterattacks. in most other forces during the First At one stage their right flank was World War.56 Their parents worried left open, and to fill the gap Layton about their safety while serving organized all of the unit’s cooks, Ivan in uniform. LAC e10994316 together in the same unit. Yet as orderlies, batmen, clerks, bandsmen Layton told them, the chances of a
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Ivan’s grave (on left) in Hillside Cemetery near Le Quesnel, France. The woman in the photograph is almost certainly a member of the Duval family, who watched over the graves of Ivan and other Canadian soldiers for many years after 1918. It is believed the photograph was taken by Stuart Ralston during his 1929 visit to France.
least one of the two men surviving lines for the morning stand-to.58 He Ivan’s former brigade commander, would actually be greater because was evacuated, and Ivan took over Victor Odlum, was second-in- the commander and his deputy were as commander. The following day command of the 7th Battalion when never permitted to participate in the Ivan directed an attack on a machine its commander was killed in the early same operation, to guard against the gun position that was holding up stages of the Battle of Ypres in April loss or incapacitation of both senior the 85th’s advance. Leading from 1915. He took over, only to watch officers: “[Ivan] has worried that you the front in the same manner as as his brother, who was a sergeant dear people would feel we are too his brother, Ivan was struck just in the same unit, was reportedly close together if anything happened, above the heart by a bullet and “obliterated by a shell.”61 And H.D.G. but as a matter of fact I rather hope killed instantly.59 It was a sign of Crerar, who served under J.L. Ralston it will prove the other way around… the intensity of combat at Amiens as chief of the general staff and later it might prove better than to have that Ivan’s replacement as battalion commanded First Canadian Army us in different battalions where the commander lasted only ten minutes in Northwest Europe during the chances are we would both be in it.”57 before being evacuated with a mortal Second World War, lost the younger This rationale would have wound from another machine gun of his two brothers on active service made the tragedy no less painful bullet, and the captain commanding in the Middle East in 1917. Malcolm for the Ralston family when the 85th the company in the attack was killed Crerar was ten years younger than Battalion participated in the Battle of shortly thereafter. One of the infantry Harry, almost the same difference as Amiens a few weeks later, beginning sections that captured the position between Ivan and Layton.62 on 8 August 1918. On the second was reduced to three men before even When Layton received the news day of the battle, Layton received reaching the gun.60 of his brother’s death, he began his his second wound of the war when a In losing Ivan, the Ralstons letter to his parents “The sun has sniper’s bullet went through his right shared the agony of countless other gone out of life in an instant…” He foot and into his left leg and severed Canadian families. In some cases, tried to comfort them by noting that his hamstring as he visited the front the circumstances were even similar. Ivan had died in the way he would
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have wanted: in battle, without In late October, Layton suffering, and fighting for a received his fourth and final cause in which he believed.63 wound of the war. This time he Layton later described from his was struck, as he described it, hospital bed how he had been in his “right buttock,” when a told that the 85th Battalion piece of shrapnel, honoured Ivan and another fellow officer by departing went in from the right side towards from procedure to bury them in the centre and didn’t quite come hand-made individual caskets, out [again]. The surgeon gave it and in special graves dug by a the necessary assistance on the burial party led by a sergeant operating table 15 minutes after I known to the Ralston family. landed here, so it is only a matter Several officers and over a of lying down and sitting down hundred men from Ivan’s carefully and delicately. I haven’t former Montreal units attended tried the sitting down as yet.72 the service.64 Layton worked with his parents over the next The wound had to be few months to design a small cleaned daily, and operated on memorial plaque for the site, again after it was found to be and as soon as he could after infected. Layton recorded that the fighting ended in late 1918 he spent another 15 minutes he went in search of Ivan’s grave in “refined agony having it to place the marker. There he cleaned out and packed,” and he also met the burgomaster of the did not rejoin his unit until after Layton as commanding officer of the 85th local town of Caix, whose family the conclusion of hostilities.73 In Battalion. LAC e10994317 had taken it upon themselves the end, Ralston was evacuated to watch over the graves of in the early stages of major Canadians who were buried nearby, the shrapnel, and Layton returned to operations two out of the three times and Layton arranged to have them his unit with adhesive plaster and a that he was seriously wounded in continue to care for Ivan’s grave bandage covering the left side of his 1918, which suggests one reason why in the future. The Duval and the face. For this and his general conduct he was fortunate enough to have Ralston families remained in touch in guiding operations he earned a bar survived the Last Hundred Days. right up until Layton’s own death in to his DSO.69 Ralston’s experience is In addition, it reminds us of the 1948.65 In 1929, Layton’s son Stuart a stark reminder of the intensity of many soldiers who endured being travelled to Europe, and made a combat during the Last Hundred wounded repeatedly and yet were point of deviating from his group’s Days offensive against a tenacious returned to the lines to face further planned itinerary to visit the Duvals and skilful German defence. The dangers throughout the war.74 and Ivan’s burial site.66 A year later, Canadian Corps suffered its heaviest His last stay in hospital was Layton took his wife Nettie there, casualties of the war during this longer than the other three times he while they were in London for the period.70 The 85th lost 105 men killed had been wounded and this likely Naval Disarmament Conference.67 and 520 wounded during the month encouraged Layton to record his When Layton’s first grandson was of September 1918 (which included thoughts about the other wounded born in 1946, Stuart named him Ivan two major actions, at the beginning men he saw around him. He did in honour of the boy’s great uncle.68 and the end of the month), compared so in a pocket diary that he kept Yet for Layton, as for so many to 27 dead and 115 wounded during irregularly during the war, and that other soldiers from Canada and the Amiens push in August 1918, 149 suggests how much he was moved by elsewhere, the war continued. On dead and 290 wounded for the month what he witnessed. He was acutely 1 October he was wounded for a of November 1917 at Passchendaele, sensitive to the fact that many men third time, in the face by a piece of and 53 dead and 116 wounded at were suffering more than him. One shrapnel during the final stages of the Vimy in April 1917. Another 18 men had lost both legs and one eye, and Battle of the Canal du Nord. Doctors were killed and 54 wounded in the suffered a shrapnel wound in his ultimately decided not to remove first eleven days of November 1918.71 arm, but as Ralston put it “seems
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cheery.” Another had been shot in and it is like a break in the family do anything he could to aid fellow the neck and was paralyzed from the when we lose one.76 veterans run throughout his personal shoulders down, while a third had correspondence, and seven out of the had his “Shoulder and arm laid open Ralston was remembered years 179 boxes that make up his papers to the bone front and back halfway later for taking the time as commander at Library and Archives Canada down.” Layton was unimpressed of the 85th to write personal letters to are devoted to more than 300 cases when a visiting chaplain failed to the families of every member who where he supported individual men provide more than the standard was killed in action.77 This sense of or their families in appeals before obligatory words to comfort such duty – and responsibility for the the country’s pension authorities in men.75 welfare of those under his authority the 1930s.79 Such feelings also clearly Earlier in the war, Layton – perhaps helps to explain the chronic shaped Ralston in his determination had described more than once the overwork and attention to detail for to live up to what he saw as a new difficulty of writing letters home which he was criticized later in his set of commitments that were made to the families of soldiers who had career. During the inter-war years to the next generation of soldiers who been wounded or had died under he was unrelenting in his defence went off to fight again in 1939.80 his command. In one case he wrote, of veterans’ rights. As head of the One last issue that arises from Royal Commission on Pensions and Ralston’s experience of the First It seems after all so little compared Re-establishment in 1922-1924, he World War concerns his views about to what they have suffered and I am is remembered for having crossed conscription for overseas service. under the constant fear that people the country to allow veterans to Certainly, he supported the policies will feel that letters of this kind are state their case, and preparing a of Prime Minister Robert Borden’s more or less formalities. They aren’t detailed, well-reasoned report that Conservative government when with us because we feel that these recommended a number of changes.78 it decided to impose compulsory boys are bound up with the regiment Comments about his readiness to service in 1917, at the cost of a bitter
Officers of the 85th Battalion, Hyon, Belgium (just outside of Mons), 1918. The photo was taken on 21 November when the battalion was billeted in the town. Layton is seated in the middle row, fourth from the right. To his right is Brigadier-General J.H. MacBrien who commanded the 12th Brigade in which the 85th served. MacBrien was later chief of the general staff for much of the 1920s, including a short period during Ralston’s first term as minister of National Defence. Library and Archives Canada e011067912 Library and Archives
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wartime federal election and letter in September that “I guess opening up huge divisions we aren’t far apart after all only within Canadian society.81 that what father suggests is what Ralston did so publicly as well should have been done long as in private. In a telegram that ago,…whatever will win the war was featured prominently in the quickest is the immediate the Halifax Herald a few days want.”85 Thus, in the same way before the election of December as for many English-Canadian 1917, he stated that “I strongly Liberals who eventually broke favor the immediate operation with Laurier over the issue in of the Military Service Act, and the fall of 1917, Ralston came hope Nova Scotia will heavily to see conscription as necessary support candidates pledged to more in the context of the events that policy.”82 Yet Ralston seems of the time than out of a deep not to have blindly supported sense of personal conviction. conscription. The wording of Ralston seems to have his public declaration suggests learned much from his that, much as in his decision experiences in the years to enlist in 1915 and the other afterward. He became much ways he tried to live his life more familiar with Quebec, in service to his community, moving to Montreal in 1930 to he may have been influenced join a legal practice in the city, by concern about how other and spent the next nine years people would see his actions. becoming a prominent corporate He framed his more private lawyer and getting to know views on conscription in terms most of the province’s major similar to those of many soldiers political and business leaders, at the time. As he explained to both English and French. For his parents in June 1917, the a while he even took French infantrymen overseas merely lessons.86 During the Second wanted someone else to take on World War he seemed to be some of the burdens of combat, more sensitive to the views of and conscription should be Quebeckers. He supported a imposed to help show those major effort to improve the men who remained at home that position of francophones within they were needed in France. He the Canadian military beginning did add, however, that “I cannot in April 1941 as a way to break believe that the demonstrations down some of the feelings in Quebec represent the against voluntary enlistment. sentiments of the people at large He pressed military leaders for but if they do so much the worse progress on the file throughout for Quebec.”83 Furthermore, he 1941 and into 1942.87 Despite the openly disagreed with his father assumptions that are sometimes when in July the latter echoed made about Ralston’s personal the federal Liberals’ policy feelings about conscription, for under Wilfrid Laurier that one most of the Second World War last effort should be made to Canada e011067911 Library and Archives he remained willing to limit pursue voluntary recruiting compulsory service to home before bringing in conscription. that because conscription was now defence for as long as the need Layton acknowledged that recruiting necessary it should be proceeded was met for men overseas. Only in had not been handled as well as with.84 When his father continued late 1944 when it seemed that all it could have by the military and the debate in later correspondence, other options had been exhausted did political authorities, but argued Ralston finally stated in a another he become convinced that there was
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no longer any choice but to compel however. At the end of the war he Policies of Canada, 1939-1945 (Ottawa: Queen’s Printer, 1970), pp.397-482. conscripts to serve overseas. Yet was again mentioned in despatches 2. On Ralston’s role as head of the Royal again, he was apparently influenced and awarded the CMG, in both cases Commission on Pensions and Re- more by what he felt were the desires for his performance generally over establishment, see Desmond Morton and 93 Glenn Wright, Winning the Second Battle: of the majority of the public, and the past two years. Canadian Veterans and the Return to Civilian the principle of living up to the In April 1919, Ralston was Life, 1915-1930 (Toronto: University of commitments that he felt that he and appointed to sit as part of the courts- Toronto Press, 1987), pp.166-77. James Eayrs and Stephen J. Harris provide other Cabinet ministers had made martial that followed the Kinmel Park overviews of the position of the Canadian to Canadian soldiers earlier in the riots by Canadian troops who were military in the 1920s and Ralston’s war, than by personal loyalty to the frustrated at the slow pace of their role as its minister, in James Eayrs, In Defence of Canada: From the Great War to idea or calculations of the political demobilization. Shortly afterwards the Great Depression (Toronto: University implications of such a policy.88 his own unit was selected to return of Toronto Press, 1964), and Stephen J. After the fighting came to an home, and he left to rejoin the 85th. In Harris, Canadian Brass: The Making of a Professional Army, 1860-1939 (Toronto: end in November 1918, the 85th early June 1919, the battalion arrived University of Toronto Press, 1988). J.L. Battalion found itself billeted in back in Nova Scotia, with Ralston at Granatstein deals with Ralston’s role as Belgium. Ralston made a point its head.94 minister of finance and later minister of National Defence in the Second World of commemorating the second Ralston never lost the sense of War in Canada’s War: The Politics of the anniversary of the unit’s arrival service that his early life instilled into Mackenzie King Government, 1939-1945 (Toronto: Oxford University Press, 1975). in France by holding a memorial him, and that the First World War 3. These letters are available in Library parade in February 1919, where had sharpened. As a result, when and Archives Canada [LAC], MG 27, the names of all 624 men of the Mackenzie King asked him to join the III, B11, Papers of James Layton Ralston [Ralston Papers], vol.2, “Correspondence, unit who had been killed in action Liberal government in the mid-1920s, Ivan S. Ralston to parents 1914-18,” and or had died of their battle wounds despite reservations about what “Correspondence, J. Layton Ralston to were read.89 His qualities as a senior it would do to his private life and parents 1914-19.” For ease of citation, 95 letters from these two files are referred commander were recognized when his family Ralston agreed. He was to in the rest of this article as “Ivan to he was assigned to serve briefly as unable to resist similar calls that kept parents” or “Layton to parents” (and acting brigade commander.90 Political him at the centre of federal politics in Ivan’s case, a few letters were also written solely to his father or mother, or representatives from Nova Scotia for much of the next 20 years, until to “Mack” – Ivan’s and Layton’s brother, had actually been pressing since his sense of duty to Canadians and T. Mackenzie Ralston). that summer to have him promoted to the soldiers under his authority 4. Ralston Papers, various newspaper clippings in vol.149, “Family – JLR, to brigadier, as one of the most finally led to his dismissal as minister Ralston, Mrs. B.W., re funeral – obviously talented candidates to help of National Defence at the height correspondence, clippings and lists of donors of flowers and cards, Aug[.] increase the presence of qualified of the debate over conscription in 1942,” as well as vol.1, “Diaries of senior officers from the Maritimes in November 1944. William Ralston, 1826 and 1838,” vol.2, the Canadian Corps.91 “Correspondence, Ivan S. Ralston to parents 1914-18,” typed transcript of Before leaving Europe Ralston newspaper clipping entitled “Montreal joined Lieutenant-General Arthur Notes Officer Killed at Front,” and vol.24, “’L’ Currie as the latter’s guest on a Miscellaneous 1935-36,” J.L. Ralston to Miss Esther I. Layton, 8 January 1936. visit to the Paris Peace Conference, For helping to strengthen this paper I would According to the 1881 Census, Layton’s where he was able to gain entrance like to thank the anonymous reviewer for father was a 25-year-old merchant at the to the Plenary Session. While on Canadian Military History, as well as participants time of Layton’s birth in 1881. Ten years in the session where it was first presented at later, he was listed as a “Propr’[ieto]r of a stopover at Lens, he walked the the annual Military History Colloquium of Grocery” (searches for Ralston, B.W., battleground with Currie, and the Laurier Centre for Military Strategic and Province of Nova Scotia, Census District Disarmament Studies in May 2011. I am also in Paris he met Field Marshal Sir of Cumberland, Sub-District of Amherst, grateful to Laurentian University for aiding my LAC, Census of Canada, 1881,
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detailed study available on Ralston’s Beck, Pendulum of Power: Canada’s Federal Corps: Support for Military Training in early life and career. Elections (Scarborough: Prentice-Hall the Universities of Canada, 1908-1935” 5. G.A. Rawlyk, Champions of the Truth: of Canada, 1968), pp.106-19, as well as (M.A. Thesis, Wilfrid Laurier University, Fundamentalism, Modernism, and the Beck, Politics of Nova Scotia, vol.2, Murray- 1993), pp.1-92. Maritime Baptists (Montreal and Kingston: Buchanan, 1896-1988 (Tantallon, NS: 20. These certificates are located in Ralston Centre for Canadian Studies of Mount Four East Publications, 1988), pp.37-38, Papers, vol.2, “J.L. Ralston, Certificates Allison University/McGill-Queen’s Oscar Douglas Skelton, Life and Letters of Military Instruction, 1915-16.” University Press, 1990), pp.33-37. I would of Sir Wilfrid Laurier, vol.II, 1896-1919, 21. Ralston Papers, vol.2, Layton to parents, like to thank my colleague, Dr. Todd edited and abridged by David M.L. 28 February 1915. Webb, for pointing me to this source. Farr (Toronto: McClelland and Stewart, 22. According to Ivan’s Attestation Paper, 6. The Halifax Rotary Club was founded 1965), pp.89 and 106-7, and Robert Craig his birthdate was 2 February 1890 (LAC, by Ralston’s close friend and law Brown, Robert Laird Borden: A Biography, RG 150, Accession 1992-93/166, box partner Charles Burchell. Information vol.I, 1854-1914 (Toronto: Macmillan of 8079, file 34, “Ralston, Ivan Steele” related to Ralston’s role in Rotary was Canada, 1975), pp.136-39. – also available by searching online obtained through Rotary Global History 12. Campbell, pp.8-9. For examples of at
both note how other Canadian soldiers 47. Ralston Papers, vol.2, Ivan to Mack, 12 57. Ralston Papers, vol.2, Layton to parents, downplayed awards in a similar way, in May 1917. 2 June 1918. Desmond Morton, When Your Number’s 48. RG 41, Records of the Canadian 58. Ralston Papers, vol.1, Diary, 9 August, Up: The Canadian Soldier in the First World Broadcasting Corporation, transcripts and vol.2, Layton to parents, 11 August War (Toronto: Random House of Canada, for the 1964-65 radio show “In Flanders’ 1918. 1993), p.247, and Tim Cook, Shock Troops: Fields,” vol.16, “85th Battalion,” tape 59. Ralston Papers, vol.2, Layton to parents, Canadians Fighting the Great War, 1917- no.2, pp.3-4. Also quoted in Cook, p.522, 11 August P.M. (Ralston added the 1918 (Toronto: Viking Canada, 2008), and Patrick H. Brennan, “Good Men for a “P.M.” to indicate that this was the second p.213. Hard Job: Infantry Battalion Commanders letter he had written that day – the first is 33. Nicholson, p.154. in the Canadian Expeditionary Force,” cited in the previous endnote). Also letter 34. Ralston Papers, vol.2, Ivan to parents, 8 Canadian Army Journal 9, no.1, (Spring of 18 August 1918, and Hayes, p.122. January 1917. 2006), p.22. I am indebted to Brennan’s 60. War Diary, 85th Battalion, Appendix 35. Ralston Papers, vol.2, Ivan to parents, 11 article for leading me to the references to “L.C.,” August 1918, “Report on November 1916. Ralston in the RG 41 transcripts, where [Operation] ‘L[andoverry]. C[astle.’ 36. Ralston Papers, vol.2, Ivan to parents, 15 a second former soldier also echoed the Operations between 8th August, 1918 January 1917. comments about Ralston leading from the and 13th August, 1918,” p.2; RG 41, 37. Ralston Papers, vol.2, Ivan to parents, 22 front and regularly risking enemy fire in vol.16, “85th Battalion,” tape no.3, p.8; July 1917. tape no.3, p.15. and Hayes, p.122. 38. Ralston Papers, vol.2, Layton to parents, 49. On Ralston’s DSO, see David K. Riddle 61. Geoff Jackson, “Victor Odlum’s Career 14 January 1918. On Ralston’s trips to and Donald G. Mitchell, compilers, The as a Battalion Commander in the Great London and other activities during his Distinguished Service Order to the Canadian War,” 22nd Military History Colloquium, course, see also vol.1, large purple pocket Expeditionary Force and Canadians in the Laurier Centre for Military Strategic and diary for 1918 (hereafter cited as “Diary”), Royal Naval Air Service, Royal Flying Corps Disarmament Studies, Waterloo, Ontario, various entries for January to March 1918. and Royal Air Force, 1915-1920 (Winnipeg: 7 May 2011. 39. Ralston Papers, vol.2, Layton to parents, The Kirkby-Marlton Press, 1991), p.88, 62. Malcolm died in an airplane crash while 5 and 23 October 1916, and 5 and 11 as well as “The Minister of National serving in the Royal Flying Corps in February 1917, and LAC, RG 9, Series Defence,” pp.134-35, Hayes, pp.76-77, Palestine, while Harry rose to senior III, vol.4944, War Diary, 85th Canadian Nicholson, p.282, and Ralston Papers, staff positions as an artillery officer in Battalion (hereafter “War Diary, 85th vol.2, Layton to parents, 1 July, 17 August the Canadian Expeditionary Force in Battalion”), 4-15 February 1917. Also and 23 September, and Ivan to parents, 3 France during the war. Paul Dickson, A Hunt, pp.99-101, and Hayes, pp.29-34. and 10 July, 20 August, and 23 September Thoroughly Canadian General: A Biography 40. Patrick H. Brennan describes the reduction 1917. of General H.D.G. Crerar (Toronto: of Montreal battalions in 1917 in detail in 50. “The Minister of National Defence,” University of Toronto Press, 2007), a paper titled “Giving New Brunswick p.135, Hayes, pp.92-95, and Ralston especially pp.8 and 55-56. its Due (at Last): The Geographical Re- Papers, vol.2, Layton to parents, 6 January 63. Ralston Papers, vol.2, Layton to parents, assignment of Infantry Battalions in 1918. 11 August P.M. 1918. the Canadian Corps during 1917-1918,” 51. Ralston Papers, vol.2, Layton to parents, 64. Ralston Papers, vol.2, Layton to parents, 23rd Military History Colloquium, 22 July and 2 and 17 August, Ivan to 25 August and 22 September 1918. Laurier Centre for Military Strategic and parents, 22 July and 1 and 20 August, and 65. Ralston Papers, vol.2, Layton to parents, Disarmament Studies, London, Ontario, untitled newspaper excerpt at end of file 15 September, 13 and 21 October, and 5 May 2012; Nicholson, p.225, and Hayes, from the Chronicle [Halifax], 7 September 9 and 15 December 1918, as well as 24 p.66, also discuss it briefly. 1917. March, 6 April, another undated letter 41. For the story of the 85th Battalion and 52. War Diary, 85th Battalion, 1, 3, 25, and 26 later in April, and 11 May 1919. For later the taking of Hill 145, see Hunt, pp.102- April, and 13 May; Ralston Papers, vol.1, references to the Duvals, see Ralston 5, Hayes, pp.41 and 46-54, Nicholson, Diary, 1, 3, and 25 April, and 3 May; and Papers, vol.20, “’D’ Miscellaneous pp.259-60, Cook, pp.133-36, and Pierre vol.2, Layton to parents, 26 April, and 1934-38,” handwritten note recording Berton, Vimy (Toronto: McClelland and Ivan to parents, 28 April 1918. Also “The information from a visit to them in Stewart, 1986), pp.261-74. Minister of National Defence,” p.135, and France on 4 January 1938, and vol.20, 42. Ralston Papers, vol.2, Layton to parents, Hayes, p.112. “’D’ Miscellaneous 1939-48,” various 15 April 1917. 53. Unfortunately, Evans died of his wounds correspondence with the “Délignières” 43. Ralston Papers, vol.2, Ivan to parents, 15 a few days later. For various aspects of the family (Duval’s granddaughter), 16 April 1917. The incident is also described story see War Diary, 85th Battalion, 29 February 1946 to 5 May 1948. in Hayes, p.57. July 1918; RG 41, vol.16, “85th Battalion,” 66. Ralston Papers, vol.3, “Corresp[ondence]. 44. These developments are traced in Ralston tape no.3, p.17, and tape no.5, p.16; “The J.L. Ralston to son, Stuart. 1929,” Layton Papers, vol.2, Ivan to parents, 30 January, Minister of National Defence,” pp.135-36; to Stuart, 28 April and 25 June 1929. 5 and 12 February, 12 March, 1 and 22 and Hayes, pp.116 and 252. 67. Ralston Papers, vol.2, Layton to parents, April, 20 May, and 27 June; Ivan to Mack, 54. Ralston Papers, vol.2, Ivan to parents, 12 and Nettie to Layton’s parents, both 18 12 May; Ivan to mother, 10 June; and and 19 May 1918. February 1930. Layton to parents, 25 January, 22 April, 55. Ralston Papers, vol.1, Diary, various 68. Ivan’s birth on 27 May and Stuart’s naming 19 May, and 24 June 1917. entries, 14 May to 6 June; vol.2, Ivan to him after his great uncle are recorded in 45. Ralston Papers, vol.2, Ivan to parents, 22 parents, 28 May and 9 June, and Layton Ralston Papers, vol.25, “’Mac’ and ‘Mc’ April, 20 May, and 10 and 22 July, Ivan to to parents, 2 and 10 June; War Diary, 85th Miscellaneous. Corresp[ondence]. 1940- mother, 10 June, and Layton to parents, Battalion, 6 June 1918; and Hayes, p.114. 47,” J.L. Ralston to Ernest MacQuarrie, 12 22 April, 8 June, and 22 July 1917. Also 56. As one local newspaper reporter in June 1946, and vol.20, “’D’ Miscellaneous vol.2, “Correspondence J.L. Ralston to the two men’s hometown of Amherst 1939-48,” J.L. Ralston to Robert Doncaster, son, Stuart, 1917,” Layton to Stuart, 16 described it, the situation was “Unique 27 December 1946. and 19 May 1917. in the military history of Canada, 69. War Diary, 85th Battalion, 2 October; 46. Ralston Papers, vol.2, Ivan to parents, 16 possibly of the British Empire.” Ralston Ralston Papers, vol.2, Layton to parents, and 23 September, and 24 December, and Papers, vol.2, “Correspondence, Ivan S. 6 and 13 October 1918; “The Minister Layton to parents, 17 and 23 September Ralston to parents 1914-18,” unattributed of National Defence,” p.136; Hayes, 1917. newspaper excerpt entitled “One Brother p.163; and Riddle and Mitchell, The Killed, The Other Wounded”. Distinguished Service Order, p.87.
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70. See in particular Shane B. Schreiber, Shock 37, no.4, (December 1956), reprinted p.137, and Hayes, pp.236-37 and 239-42. Army of the British Empire: The Canadian in Carl Berger, ed., Conscription 1917 On the riots in Kinmel Park and elsewhere, Corps in the Last 100 Days of the Great War (Toronto: University of Toronto Press, see also Desmond Morton, “’Kicking and (Westport, Connecticut: Praeger, 1997), n.d.), p.11, A.M.J. Hyatt, “Arthur Currie Complaining’: Demobilization Riots in pp.131-32, and Cook, p.552. and Conscription: A Soldier’s View,” the Canadian Expeditionary Force, 1918- 71. War Diary, 85th Battalion: Appendix “A,” Canadian Historical Review 50, no.3, 19,” Canadian Historical Review, 61, no.3, April 1917; Appendix 9, August 1918; September 1969, p.286, and Morton, (September 1980), pp.334-60. unnumbered appendix listing casualties, “Polling the soldier vote: the overseas 95. Campbell, pp.19-23, and H. Blair Neatby, September 1918; and Appendix XII, campaign in the Canadian general William Lyon Mackenzie King, 1924-1932: “Casualties for Month of November, election of 1917,” Journal of Canadian The Lonely Heights (Toronto: University 1918,” November 1918. Also Hayes, p.103. Studies 10, no.4, (November 1975), pp.49- of Toronto Press, 1963), pp.165-66. 72. Ralston Papers, vol.2, Layton to parents, 50. 27 October (source of quotation) and 3 84. Ralston Papers, vol.2, Layton to parents, November, as well as War Diary, 85th 15 and 22 July 1917. Daniel Byers is an Assistant Professor in Battalion, 24 October 1918, and Hayes, 85. Ralston Papers, vol.2, Layton to parents, the Department of History at Laurentian p.184. 10 September 1917. University. He is currently working on 73. Ralston Papers, vol.1, Diary, 28 October 86. Ralston Papers, vol.1, large black diaries a book-length biography of J.L. Ralston. (source of quotation), as well as War for 1930 and 1931, and particularly entries Diary, 85th Battalion, 19 November 1918, from 25 September 1930 to 6 November and Hayes, p.225. 1931. For mention of Ralston’s French 74. For example, out of a group of 52 men lessons, see especially 10 November 1930 from Kitchener, Ontario who were and 26 February 1931. studied by Mike Wert, 46 reached the 87. See Ralston Papers, vol.46, files titled From the Editor-in-Chief front lines at some point during the war, “French-Canadians, Gen. (Secret)” and 10 were killed or died of wounds, and 31 “French Representation in the Army, …continued from page 2. were wounded or fell victim to disease at Gen. (Secret).” Granatstein and Hitsman, least once. At least 5 were wounded more pp.160-61, come to different conclusions a Canadian who married a British than once (and in one case, three times) about Ralston’s views towards these same Army doctor, and accompanied by enemy fire, and only 5 survived the initiatives. war unscathed. See “From Enlistment to 88. This conclusion comes out of my doctoral him on his posting to Singapore the Grave: The Impact of the First World thesis on the Army’s administration in 1940. She joined the Australian War on 52 Canadian Soldiers,” Canadian of conscription in the Second World Red Cross, and continued as a Red Military History 9, no.2, (Spring 2000), War, which is currently being revised pp.44-46 and 54-55. for possible publication. See Byers, Cross representative when she was 75. Ralston Papers, vol.1, Diary, various “Mobilizing Canada: The National interned at Changi Jail, in appalling entries, 24 October to 2 November 1918 Resources Mobilization Act, the conditions, following the Japanese (quotations are from 27 and 30 October). Department of National Defence, 76. Ralston Papers, vol.2, Layton to parents, and Compulsory Military Service in conquest of the island in 1942. To 14 January 1918. Ralston also made similar Canada, 1940-1945” (Ph.D. thesis, McGill escape from the wretched conditions, comments in letters of 11 November 1917 University, 2001), particularly Chapters the prisoners fantasized aloud about and 7 April 1918. 4-5. The bulk of Campbell’s M.A. thesis 77. RG 41, vol.16, “85th Battalion,” tape no.2, also discusses Ralston’s feelings and their favourite meals, and Mulvany p.3, and Brennan, “Good Men for a Hard actions related to conscription, from 1939 collected the recipes which she Job,” p.24. to 1942, and comes to somewhat similar 78. Morton and Wright, Winning the Second overall conclusions. On Ralston’s actions published after the war to raise funds Battle, pp.166-177. during the 1944 conscription crisis, see for the benefit of former prisoners 79. These files are listed in LAC, Finding Aid also Granatstein and Hitsman, pp.210-21, who were still hospitalized as a result no.533, pp.9-20. Stacey, pp.440-60, and Dawson, pp.14-54. 80. For example, see R. MacGregor Dawson, 89. War Diary, 85th Battalion, 9-10 February of their experiences. The Conscription Crisis of 1944 (Toronto: 1919, and Appendix 1, February 1919: In the CWM section Laura University of Toronto Press, 1961), pp.29- “Table of Officers and Other Ranks killed Brandon has produced another in 31. and died of wounds from February 10th. 81. For an overview of the events see [sic] 1917 till February 10th.[sic] 1919”. a now sadly long list of obituaries Granatstein and Hitsman, pp.60-99. Also Ralston Papers, vol.2, Layton to marking the passing of Canadian war 82. “From the Trenches Major Ralston parents, 1 and 14 February 1919, and artists, in this case Bruno Bobak. It is APPEALS To Nova Scotians At Home,” Hayes, pp.232-33. Halifax Herald, 14 December 1917, p.3. 90. War Diary, 85th Battalion, 2 and 15 March; an inspiring story. An enlisted man Campbell, pp.13-14, also discusses the Ralston Papers, vol.2, Layton to parents, with no formal artistic training but telegram, as well as Ralston’s views 9 March 1919; “The Minister of National abundant talent, he won recognition towards conscription during the First Defence,” p.137; and Hayes, pp.233-34. World War more generally. 91. Brennan, “Giving New Brunswick its in a Canadian Army art competition. 83. Ralston Papers, vol.2, Layton to parents, Due.” He was able to take officer training 8 June 1917. For conclusions by historians 92. Ralston Papers, vol.2, Layton to parents, and, on obtaining his commission, on the similar views of other Canadian 1 and 14 February and 18 March 1919. soldiers, see Cook, pp.367-71, who 93. The CMG was the Companion to the Most became an official war artist, with puts the election into the larger context Distinguished Order of Saint Michael and an assignment to the 4th Canadian of the men having just completed Saint George, used to honour people who fighting the horrific and costly Battle render extraordinary or important non- Armoured Division during its of Passchendaele, as well as Desmond military service in a foreign country. operations in Northwest Europe in Morton, When Your Number’s Up, pp.244- 94. Ralston Papers, vol.2, Layton to parents, 1944-1945. 45, Granatstein and Hitsman, p.80, A.M. April (no specific date on letter), War Willms, “Conscription 1917: A Brief for Diary, 85th Battalion, 10 and 18 April Roger Sarty the Defence,” Canadian Historical Review 1919, “The Minister of National Defence,” February 2013 https://scholars.wlu.ca/cmh/vol22/iss1/216 14