NAC PA 30304 © Archives of the C anadian War M useum . These . useum M War anadian C the of Archives fCaaaada h ihrolreyu a d ed p tap un largely Archives ational hitherto N the and the at at and diaries, as oused anada h C ch of su sources aterial m other new ith w history helps to fu rth er illum inate inate illum Using er ayes.1 rth H fu to ertram B helps Sir aptain, C e artim w H ayes’s account as a fram ework, this article article this ework, fram a as account ayes’s H wartime service h as since slipped into obscurity. into slipped since as h service wartime is derived from the m em oirs of the the of oirs em m the from derived is once a household nam e in C anada, anada, C in e was nam she Although e. household a hom once soldiers victorious the co n tin u ed to ferry C an ad ian an d A m erican erican m A d brought an 1919, in ian and ad an C Atlantic, the ferry across to troops ed u tin n co vrol o lfx bet rh and d n a arch M n e e tw e b alifax H to iverpool L C a n a d a . F or th e n e x t two y e a rs rs a e y two t x e n to e she th back or voyages F civilians d rn an . tu a d re a n soldiers a C the ounded On w 1916. carried ber ecem D time, a t a im portant p a rt of C an ad a’s w ar effort. ar w a’s ad an C of rt a p portant im subm arine. Carrying m ore C anadian soldiers soldiers anadian C ore m Carrying arine. subm by lly a tic s ia s u th n e d re e e h c s a w th a n any o th er tro o p sh ip , , ip sh y p o enem tro an er th g o in any attack n in a for th ccess honoured raised su p and own ships, eliable,” er R h other to “Old for the rendered as services ected resp C a n a d ia n tro o p s w ho s a ile d a b o a rd her, her, rd a o b a d ile a s ho w s p o tly n tro e u q n ia fre d a n t a u C b career. le er h b of ta rt a o p n a overlooked is ar W C anadian troops during the First World World First the ferrying during troops troopship a as anadian t C en sp she e tim sister of the ill-fated RMS RMS ill-fated the of sister I nda ltr istory, H ilitary M anadian C n the long adventurous life of Royal Royal of life (RMS) Ship Mail adventurous long the n Most inform ation on on ation inform Most troops 6000 to close odate m accom to Able Carrying Canadian Troops Canadian Carrying The Story of RMS RMS of Story The Olympic Introduction a First World War Troopship World First a m ade ten ro und trips from from trips und ro ten ade m Olympic, Olympic Vol 1, 1 Wi er2002, 54- . 0 -7 4 .5 p p , 2 0 0 2 r te in W 1, r e b m u N 11, e m lu o V Titanic, Olympic’s the older older the lympic O Olympic as a troopship troopship a as the the Olympic’s Olympic’s w artim e e artim w w as an an as w y pic lym O David R. Gray R. David
York. After returning from New York, on her next her on York, New from returning After York. on her u su al passage from Southam pton to New New to pton Southam from passage al su u her on fitted for for all passengers an d crew, she was was she crew, d an now passengers all lifeboats for for enough With fitted bulkheads. watertight W i bunker ext e l and d n a ll, passengers.2 u h of 2440 total a le b u o d accommodate to able d e d n te x e , rs new e k with n u b rebuilt, e extensively sid was and birthplace T years later. After After later. years m aiden voyage in 1912, 1912, in voyage aiden m Afloat,” “Largest vessel in the World,” and “Queen “Queen and World,” the in vessel “Largest Afloat,” afloat from the tim e of her lau n ch until the the until ch n liner lau an erm G her e of th of e tim pletion the com from afloat decks, nine of total a gross registered tonnage of 45,324 tons and a a and tons 45,324 of tonnage with length, registered overall in gross a feet 882 At cean.” O the of to described w ith all the superlatives later applied applied rs, later e lin superlatives tic n the all tla ith w -A largest s n and described tra est new e the th As 1911. of in place taking n a th earlier and lau n ch ed as RMS RMS as ed ch n lau and Olympic Titanic: ie first of three sim ilar sister-sh ip s, th a t t a th s, ip sister-sh ilar the sim three included of first ie h e n G re a t B rita in d e c la re d w ar on on ar w d re la c e d 1914, in ugust rita A 4 B on any t a erm G re G n e h Olympic was built by H arland & Wolff in Belfast Belfast &in Wolff arland H by built was aadu icmstances. circum frequently in ship hazardous large of this handling sembar i t fo from d n r a e g n a d n and tio supply e a th k general r the a b , and n m e tio arines, a subm rk of a b m e s is d ltie u iffic d an d of life on board , in clu d in g th e e th g in d clu in , board on of vessel life the of on details d sailing of an interesting experiences the provide sources Early Wartime History Wartime Early “Ocean G reyhound,” “Finest Steam er er Steam “Finest reyhound,” G “Ocean Titanic, Prewar History Prewar Titanic Titanic’s Olympic w ith h er m aiden voyage voyage aiden m er h ith w Olympic Olympic an d the the d an was the largest ship ship largest the was tragic loss on h er er h on loss tragic as in 1910, a year year a 1910, in returned to her her to returned Imperator y pic lym O Britannic, Olympic
w as as w was was two two the the 55 process of loading it through the Olympic’s side Department of Militia and Defence contracted ports would take three days, provided no other with White Star Line to victual the troops in large ships required loading at the same time. Olympic on the Canadian scale, at the level of CD g O « They also estimated the total amount of coal 3rd Class passengers. 9 Olympic sailed from E o available in Halifax to meet all refueling needs Liverpool “completely victualled” and for the first to be 10,000 tons. Consequently, the collier trip in March 1916 required only fish, eggs, and Brighton was sent to Louisbourg in Cape Breton salad from Halifax. In March 1916 her projected 0 CJ II to load extra coal so that Halifax would be ready accommodation for 6000 troops was to be 500 15 1 . to meet all requirements. in first class berths, 958 other ranks in other 2 ro berths, and 4542 in hammocks. This was later is I Not all those in charge of planning for amended to 500 first class, 716 NCOs in berths, Olym pic’s arrival were optimistic, and some 1033 men in berths, and 3765 men in 0o O Q_ officials were still of the opinion that it was ham m ocks on decks D, E, F, and G. Of these, impossible to coal large troopships like Olympic “The World’s Biggest Ship.” - The S.S. “Olympic” leaving Belfast for Liverpool. 898 men were to be in hammocks in what had in Halifax. There were, for example, only eight been the First Class Dining Saloon.10 voyage west she carried many Canadians and of ferrying Canadian troops across the Atlantic coal lighters available. Also, Olympic’s w ater Americans returning home from Britain. On her to Europe. As one of the largest and fastest ships requirements were from 1500 to 2500 tons, and Arrival of the Troops she used 75 tons a day while in port. There were next return voyage from New York, she helped afloat, she was perfect for the role. Olympic left oldiers from across Canada arrived in only two old water boats available in Halifax, rescue the crew of the mined British battleship Liverpool for Halifax, on the first of what would Halifax aboard special troop trains. The and even when both were in commission, they S HMS A udacious and attempted to tow the be many trips, on 22 March 1916, arriving six trains often arrived before Olympic was ready could only supply 800 tons of water daily. To stricken vessel to port before she sank. Olympic days later. for embarkation and consequently, as they meet the initial needs and avoid delays, local made three trans-Atlantic crossings, mainly with waited their turn to board the vessel, the restless fire engines and all the resources of the water American civilians returning home, before the Preparation: Coal, Water, soldiers were marched around Halifax, given department were put to work to pump the British Admiralty selected her for troopship duty. Provisions, and Beds leave, and sometimes accommodated in local In early October 1914, she returned to the required water on board.7 In view of he embarkation, accommodation, and Harland & Wolff shipyard in Belfast for a 10- the scarcity of facilities in Halifax cl provisioning of six thousand soldiers, plus month conversion to fit her for the new role.3 T some suggested th at Olympic should S the logistics of handling tons of coal and water instead be coaled in New York. ^ Captain Bertram Hayes, who was to for each voyage, was a massive undertaking for Although this alternative was not z com m and Olympic throughout the war, joined Halifax and preparations were in full swing by resorted to, in reality, Olympic’s first Q her at the end of the refit at Gladstone Docks, February for the planned first arrival of the vessel sailing from Halifax was delayed, o Liverpool. Bearing the number 2810, with a in late March. Accommodating a ship of the size owing to the inadequate means at s number of naval ratings aboard to man her two of the Olympic was a new and daunting challenge the port for coaling and watering. 2 new guns (a 4.7-inch gun at the bow and a 3- for port authorities. Coaling Olympic actually took about inch gun at the stern), Olympic began her six days rather than the three that troopship career in mid September 1915. Still Among the many details to be arranged, the the Dominion Coal Company had one of the grandest ships afloat, she was now ship’s owner, the White Star-Dominion Line, estim ated. painted grey, dark grey for the hull and a lighter requested Naval Service Headquarters to provide a harbour patrol boat or other suitable grey for the superstructure. Her first task was During the first voyages from protection to avoid propellor damage, as the CANADIAN EXPEDITIONARY FORCE to carry 6000 fresh troops to the eastern Halifax, the troops were embarked almost 900-foot O lym pic would seriously to une Mediterranean on four voyages to Spezia, Italy, as early as three days before coaling CANADA ENGLAND. J . 1916 overhang the 700-foot Pier 2 at Halifax.5 and Mudros (on the Greek island of Lemnos) in was completed. In consideration of For Peace, Justice and Freedom. Cod Save the King. support of the Gallipoli campaign.4 the health of the soldiers, who had For the Atlantic crossing, Olympic needed to live on board during coaling with g Carrying the Canadian Contingent at least 5100 tons of coal, as her daily the port holes closed, E.H. Martin, g> consumption at her average speed was 850 tons. the Captain Superintendant of HMC “ s the Canadian commitment to supplying Depending on various factors, the amount of coal Dockyard, later requested that z troops for her European war effort grew A she needed to load at Halifax to fill h er b u n k ers coaling be completed before troop § during the course of 1915, a consistently ranged from 3000 to 6000 tons. On 20 March embarkation began.8 o available means of transporting them was 1916, a message from Halifax informed Ottawa CO considered essential. Hence the Canadian that the Dominion Coal Company could supply A lth o u g h O lym p ic w a s on 2 Government requested from the British the 3000 tons of coal required by Olympic, th en imperial service as a transport on Admiralty the use of O lym pic as a troop en route for Halifax from Liverpool.6 The Admiralty charter, the Canadian transport. The Admiralty responded favourably company could also supply the necessary and in February 1916 assigned Olympic the job lighters to carry the coal and estimated that the Two additional postcards showing Olympic: above, in prewar colours and below, in 56 dazzle paint at Halifax with two lighters alongside. barracks. 11 Later, departures went more number ten from Halifax in December 1916 was We were only going slow [sic] through the fog. It Others were not as lucky, particularly after smoothly as postcards and letters home suggest. planned for the 13th, expected on the 14th, was very interesting to watch them dodging about Olympic underwent renovations in 1917 and the As an unidentified soldier, Harold Allen, wrote delayed again, and embarkation took place on like flies around a jam pot. They were so small compared to this one.20 more luxurious fittings were removed or boarded on a post card on 31 May 1916: the 16th. When a further delay was announced, over. Harry Spencer of the 1st Canadian Division plans were made to exercise the troops on the Accommodation and Meals Signal Company complained in May 1917: “We Have arrived here at last after some trip, this is 17th. Olympic finally left Halifax five days before are a Senior Unit and supposed to be the a glorious boat the name of which you may know. Christmas.17 lympic’s huge size greatly impressed Private snappiest corps in Canada but were recruited We hope to sail soon along with several other Gray: Bn. This is a rotten town & it is raining like the O under Engineers and owing to some bungling devil. Hope photos of our departure were O.K. Departure got handed dirt all around. Got poorest Cannot say many things I would like to. So long.12 Now perhaps I better tell.. .something about this quarters.”25 n his novel, Barometer Rising (1 9 4 1 ), boat. It is about the biggest ship the British have. Canadian author Hugh MacLennan provides A letter from Private John Gray of the I Very nearly the biggest in the world. The a vivid description of the departure of the G erm an s have a bigger one b u t it is in New York However, even before the full conversion to C anadian Army Medical Corps (CAMC), tells of Olympic from Halifax (athough the author has I think and has been afraid to come out ever troopship, the below decks accommodation was security arrangments in July 1916. the liner leaving only two days before the Halifax since the war started. When this one was in the less than third class. As Private Gray wrote in Dardenells [sic] she had 13,000 men on board. Explosion of 6 December 1917, whereas July 1916: “Thousands of canvas hammocks There were some funny orders came to us about There are only about 1/2 that number now. It is over head. Men just getting out of them and that time. Our goods and clothing were going to Olympic actually sailed on 1 December): difficult to get an idea how long she is. For be examined to see if anybody had any explosives example there is a brass plate on the top deck dressing on the tables. We had to stoop all the or matches. The windows of the train had to be Exactly at twelve the horn of the Olympic (which as you [know] just runs round the centre time under the hammocks. This is where the closed and we m ust not speak to anyone on the coughed, then plumed itself and roared, making part of the ship). It says. This deck is 1150 feet soldiers sleep, as close as they can pack up to platform or wave a hand... .Well we did not do the air shudder. Longshoremen on the tugs round or 4 1/2 times around is one mile. There the roof. No place to put their clothes or kits. It much. I did not even unpack my blankets, and shouted to sailors on the steamer’s deck and are soldiers on 7 decks and the boat deck is nearly choked me. This is where all my friends still have my pillow and underclothes. I[t] would there was a jangle of bells signalling the engine- above that, and I don’t know how many decks of the 103rd sleep.”26 have taken several days to examine everyman’s room. Then two floods of dirty water raced along below that. Spencers building [a department things. When we reached Halifax at 6 pm (that the ship’s flanks and burst hissing against the store in Victoria, B.C. 1 only has 6 decks so that made just a week and 3 hours on the train) we sea-wall fronting her prow. The liner began to will give you some idea.21 Meals on board Olympic were of good quality, marched with all our outfit straight on to the back slowly out. As the people watched her, but the logistics of serving so many passangers steam er.13 someone started a cheer and a flurry shook the With such a mass of humanity to accommodate, was complicated. Gray’s family received crowd like wind in the leaves of a tree. Then those like Captain Fidlar, who were assigned to revealing details about the food: Embarkation silence fell on th em all an d they w atched dum bly as the ship drew away.18 the first class berths, were lucky. “Were taken to he embarkation of a full load of troops B63”, he wrote, “which proved to be the end Well what about breakfast. I looked at my card It said Compartment A2, Deck D Mess table 74. required about two days. Herbert Burrell of Not all departures were routine. In fact, room of a Suite with attached bath. T 1st sitting. It took some time to find it and oh the 100th Battalion wrote in September 1916: O lym pic’s first departure from Halifax was Appointments luxurious - comfortable chairs & what a place, away down in the dark. Rough “We were kept on the train, in the yards for 3/4 complicated by a minor accident. As the pilot beds & many lights, finished in panelled oak benches with oil cloth tables 22 men to a table.... of an hour, and then marched to the dock a short who h ad guided Olympic out of the harbour was (Louis XVI room ).”22 Well we soon lo st o u r ap p etite. B u t M cA lister [?[ distance away & embarked. Rest of evening spent transferred by small boat from Olympic to the and I got busy and got some big tins and exploring the devious ways & byways of this huge armed yacht HMCS S ta d a co n a , th e m u ch Private Gray was also fortunate: struggled to the kitchen and got porridge and coffee, sausages and bread for the table and got steamer & slinging up our hammocks.”14 Private smaller vessel had difficulty manoeuvering in the .. .I’m p leased to say th e good fortune, or special som ething to eat. We w ashed u p th e dishes ready John Gray’s letter tells how meal and sleeping wind. As the two drifted together, Stadacona’s providence or whatever it is which has followed for the 2nd sitting although we knew that several arrangements were communicated to the masthead caught and carried away two of me ever since joining the army was widr me still. of our men had not found the place yet. They arriving troops: “As we went up the gang plank Olympic’s lifeboats. Fortunately, damage to both I have a lovely little stateroom with 3 beds in it lost their turn and went without or bought a we were each given a card which told us just vessels was minimal, and Stadacona w as able and the men with me are all right,.. .and we have breakfast at the canteen.27 exactly where our bed was and where we must to retrieve the two lifeboats.19 lots of room, a nice mahogany wardrobe to hang Captain Fidlar wrote from an officer’s sit for meals and so on....”15 Other activities our clothes and drawers for small things. Electric light switch at the bed side, m attress & perspective in May 1916: “Meals very good during loading were described by Captain Before reaching the open sea and her pillows white sheet & blanket, a fan blowing fresh though not many vegetables.”28 Edward Fidlar, CAMC: “Watched soldiers come cruising speed, O lym p ic was usually air through a ventilator under my bed and so aboard. Luncheon in 2nd class dining room. accompanied by escorts chosen from the few on, everything lovely.23 Escorts and Submarines 88th Bat. from Vancouver, 89th from Calgary, small ships available in Halifax. Private Gray After a stroll round the deck and she is a big 90th Winnipeg, 95th Toronto, 99th Windsor.... relayed to his children his colourful impression one, I began to think of a bath, but all lthough the Admiralty originally planned for At night soldiers lined side of boat & signallers of the escorts: bathroom(s) were locked and no hot water, but Athe Olympic to sail in convoy from Halifax talked with some people on shore. Some of the where there’s a will there’s a way. I found a with escorts, Captain Hayes convinced the girls could wig wag very well.”16 My head was buzzing and I was glad to get up steward and a quarter (25c) did the rest. I got a authorities that his ship, with a regular speed of cold salt water bath and got some clean clothes into the fresh air again, and low [sic] and behold 22 knots, would be in less danger from we were steaming out of Halifax harbour. It was on and went to bed about 11 oclock and in 5 For the soldiers who boarded first, the long very pretty but a little foggy. Very soon we were minutes time I opened my eyes and it was 6 am submarine attack sailing alone rather than with wait before sailing was unexpected and for some surrounded by other boats. One very fast torpedo next morning.24 a convoy at a speed of 12 knots.29 the wait could drag on for several days. Sailing boat circled round and round us all the time.
58 59 Prior to her second departure from Halifax as the ship approached England: “The boat zig maintenance and for the installation of six 6-inch which show the colours of the dazzling stripes on 1 May 1916, the question was again raised zagged her course all the time, turning often at guns as added protection. Her crew was then and swirls to have included varying shades of by the Admiralty: “Can O lym pic sail from right angles and at intervals of every few supplemented by 40 naval ratings to man the blue, grey, and brown. Canada without escort as on previous occasion?” m inutes.”36 Olympic was always m et by escorting new guns.41 On 4 April 1917 the liner was Although Canadian authorities remained eager destroyers as she neared the British Isles. Lloyd commissioned as His Majesty’s Troopship In mid-May 1917, as the menace from to see Olympic escorted, the Admiralty only Wickwire of the 193rd Battalion remembered (HMT) Olympic, and the White Ensign replaced submarines mounted, the Canadian Department provided an escort on a few occasions. For seeing other ships “...only when we approached the Red Ensign of the Merchant Marine.42 Some of Militia and Defence requested that an escort example, the departure from Halifax on the England. The British Navy destroyers came out 2000 passengers, mostly women and children, be supplied for Olympic on her next voyage from eighth voyage in 1916 was delayed due to the and circled round and round. They would go up embarked at Glasgow for the first crossing to Halifax, especially in view of the increasing hours presence of a German U-boat on this side of the and drop back, then round and round. Would Halifax as HMT Olympic in early April 1917. of daylight. The Admiralty, however, stood by its Atlantic. In view of the danger, Olympic sailed circle around the ship in case any submarines original decision that she should sail alone, with the armed merchant cruisers HMS approached.”37 Captain Fidlar wrote in June The new s ta tu s of Olympic raised questions responding that: “No cruiser has sufficient sea C algarian a n d HMS D rake on 13 October 1916: “Destroyer #74 came about 12 noon & in Halifax. An officer of the Navy Yard in Halifax speed to convoy OLYMPIC across Atlantic 1916.30 continued alongside...During evening more wrote to Ottawa: “Olympic now flying white without reducing latter’s speed to such an extent ships were said to have come up & in trip down ensign. What is her status? Should I give orders th at advantage it gives is lost. OLYMPIC has been As with other troopships, Olympic received past Isle of Man it was said over 100 vessels for her movements and sailing as before or specially armed in order that she may not special instructions to leave at dark and to follow were within 20 minutes call.”38 should I submit to Commander-in-Chief?” 43 require convoy and so long as Admiralty a prescribed zig-zagging course for the first 100 Although she flew the White Ensign of a instructions given her are complied with she miles out to avoid interception by submarines.31 The threat of submarine attack delayed some commissioned ship, the authorities determined runs very small risk from raiders. Protection In March 1918, Colonel Edouard Leprohon, voyages and prolonged others. As described by th at Olympic was to continue to be treated as a against submarines is afforded when Canadian Senior Medical Officer (SMO) on Harry Spencer, a crossing in early May 1917 civilian transport. approaching British waters.”44 board, wrote of his first day at sea: “Heavy sea lasted nine days as Olympic was forced to running - following a zig zag course. ... Still in anchor for 14 hours in Loch Swilly in Northern O lym p ic now had a more war-like The Crossing danger zone, followed by torpedo [boat] Ireland. appearance as she was painted in the dazzle- lympic was given the name “Old Reliable” destroyers who fired two shots at a German We have laid here all day and think we were paint disruptive camouflage scheme applied to by the people of Halifax with respect to the submarine supposed to have been seen. O chased in here by submarines. Several boats many vessels during the war. During the next the regularity of her arrivals and departures. The Tremendous excitement.”32 passed close by during the day, including several two years, the dazzle paint scheme was changed normal time for the Atlantic crossing was five destroyers, a British submarine and a at least once. Due to the lack of dated days and six hours depending on weather and Olympic sailed without lights showing and minelayer...escorted by four destroyers and photographs, there is some confusion as to the route. However, there were irregularities and at night smoking was forbidden. The standard hugging the Irish shore, during which three boats kept on outside and one on inside... Passed thro sequence of the different dazzle-paint schemes. many delays caused by weather and safety precautions taken were described by sub net reaching across the loch. Bands played An important record of the colours and patterns circumstances beyond the control of the Captain Herbert Burrell in September 1916: “In the concerts and church service held. We passed a used in the later version are the sketches and and the shore-based authorities. For example, evening it rained and there was considerable fog. great many boats including large and small paintings of Canadian war artist Arthur Lismer, on one eastward trip to Liverpool, Olympic Consequently speed was much reduced and fog tramps, minelayers etc & etc. This is the horns sounded every minute. All smoking on fourteenth trip with soldiers made by the Canadian troops returning from Europe aboard HMT Olympic, open decks forbidden at night. Life belts worn Olympic. Reported that we went by Loch Swilly Halifax, NS, circa 1919. Note the dazzle-painted bridge. 150 miles but subs were so thick and several all day & placed ready for immediate use at boats were being sunk that we turned back. Any night.”33 man on board sighting a sub would receive £ 5 0 0 .39 Harry Spencer recorded in his diary in May Shortly after Olympic arrived in Liverpool 1917 that the danger of fire was ever present: on 19 November 1916 on the return leg of her “Very foggy so whistle blew every few minutes. ninth trip, her sister ship Britannic, launched Fire drill several times a day - Signalled by in February 1914 and commissioned as a several short blasts on whistle and bugles blown hospital ship in December 1915, struck a mine all over.”34 The strict enforcement of the no lights (on 21 November) in the Aegean Sea while regulation could have dramatic results, as rather approaching Mudros to pick up wounded vividly recorded by Harry Spencer: “Last night soldiers. Britannic sank with a loss of about 30 we were not allowed on deck after eight. One lives, leaving Olympic as the only surviving man has died from diptheria and it is rumored member of the White Star Line’s three Olympic that the captain shot one of the guards in the class liners.40 stomach with his revolver for lighting a match.”35 Armed and Dazzled Precautions against submarine attacks increased in the final leg of the crossing with a n January 1917, O lym pic was taken off resumption of a zig-zag course. Spencer wrote ITransport Service and returned to Belfast for 60 Arthur Lismer and the Olympic
Arthur Lismer, an original member of the Group of Seven, was commissioned by the Canadian War Memorials Fund to portray naval activity in the port of Halifax in 1918. The sketches reproduced here are examples from the hundreds he completed in 1918 and 1919.
CWM CN 72201 CWM CN 72220 travelled around the northern coast of Ireland October, he recorded another fierce gale which November and was completed by 8 pm the next was amongst a bunch swabbing decks & stairs to avoid submarines in the English Channel, had the “Big Fellow” rolling so heavily that all day. To provide for their meals the Captain had & sweeping - about an hours work in the then south past the Isle of Man into Liverpool. boat drills were cancelled and all passengers to make a special request for 100 tons of rice.54 morning and 1 / 2 an hour each evening.”60 The were ordered below early in the evening for what On this particular trip, the passengers were soldiers were also required to take part in A lthough Olympic’s usual route was direct turned out to be four days in a row. “Many accompanied by 140 guards supplied by the “physical drill.” from Halifax to Liverpool, some thought was passengers still sick.”, he wrote. “This is one of Canadian mlitary. With 6152 labourers and 21 given to a stop at Newfoundland to take on troops the worst trips I have made. All life belts are officers of the Chinese Labour Battalion on Some passengers on the earlier voyages in there. In May 1917 Major-General G.W. Gwatkin, rigidly worn & passengers are again ordered board, plus the guard, other first and second 1916 made use of those luxuries still remaining Chief of the General Staff, raised the question below early this evening.”50 class military and civilian passengers, as well from Olympic’s civilian vocation. Captain Fidlar of the practicality of the Olympic calling at St. as the crew, Olympic’s total complement on this reported on how he “found the gymnasium & John’s. In the end, however, due to the Olympic’s On a mid-May return crossing to Halifax in trip was 7106, over 1000 passengers more than tried out the apparatus. Trotting horse with side draught of over 35 feet, it was considered unsafe 1919 Olympic was stopped for about 12 hours her official capacity.55 Her lifeboats could only saddle & astride vibrator, back massaging for her to enter St. John’s Harbour, “as there is due to thick fog. It was “bitterly cold on deck as hold 6818 and there were only life belts for 7000, apparatus, bucking camel, rowing apparatus. a very shallow patch in the middle of the entrance well as inside”, wrote John Gray in his diary. necessitating the acquisition of additional life Chest weight, bicycles, punching bag, ... & which for a ship of the OLYMPIC’S size When the fog lifted in the early morning, he and rafts and life belts before sailing.56 W hen Olympic medicine ball... After luncheon walked around necessitates two very sharp and large turns to the the other passengers saw “two very large ice finally left Halifax on 1 December, with her decks deck. Couldn’t see much of sports arranged for avoid. It is a risk which...should not be bergs away to North. Huge masses of ice full of Chinese labourers, probably the largest men. Saw officers playing shuffleboard.”61 unnecessarily incurred.”45 hundreds of feet high shining white in the sun.”51 number of passengers she carried on a single voyage, she only narrowly escaped the R epresentatives of the YMCA were assigned Fog and the dangers of icebergs compounded Passengers and Cargo devastating Halifax Explosion which occurred to the trips outward bound from Halifax to the threat from German submarines, as the ship organize sports and other entertainment for the n her first voyage from Halifax in early April just five days later. If she had been lost on that had to slow down to avoid the danger of troops, and to look after the books and games 1916, Olympic carried 5737 troops. From occasion the process of ferrying Canadian troops collisions. As recorded by Captain Fidlar in June O provided. As might be expected, the men also that time on, the official number of troops to be overseas would have been seriously hampered. 1916: “Fog all day, said to be making only 15 entertained themselves in diverse ways. Burrell, carried per voyage was 6014. This resulted in knots. Stopped for awhile.”46 Herbert Burrell’s for example, recorded that he “Played piano for cramped conditions below decks, but nonethless Although the transport of troops was diary of September 1916 paints the following awhile in dining saloon of sergeants, and one of allowed the maximum number to be carried Olympic’s prime focus, room was sometimes picture of one foggy day: “Cold cheerless them possessing a very good baritone voice sang without undue hardship. made for other important cargoes. For example, morning. Mist had cleared off but soon on the first voyage from Halifax she carried 14 Wagner’s ‘Star of Eve’ for me while I accompanied enshrouded us again. By 8 a.m. this morning him .”62 Passengers other than soldiers listed on tons of ball ammunition to England. On her our good ship had covered some 500 miles in regular sailings included Probationary Flight ninth trip to Halifax, in November 1916, she spite of her reduced speed. The sombre grey Captain Fidlar described a tour of the ship. Officers (Royal Naval Air Service), U.S. Navy brought 20 packages of “valuable stores” from clouds and sea & a cold September day, “About 2 pm went below with others to see Officers, and chemists for British munitions the Bank of England to be handed over to the combined, do not encourage one to stay on deck. engines. Three propellor shafts, two outside on factories. Most of the passengers on the Halifax Dominion Express Company. Representatives Our ship in her coating of grey paint is in reciprocating engines & one centre steam turbine to Liverpool run were men, but on many voyages from the Ministery of Finance and the CPR took harmony with the scene.”47 with 20 miles of blade. Steam for turbine comes women, mainly nursing sisters but also wives of delivery on arrival of what was probably gold from exhaust of third cylinder. Engines develop officers or other special cases, were also on bullion. In December 1916, on the tenth trip Storms and heavy seas made the trip across 83000 horsepower run by 29 boilers using 800 board. In September 1916, Herbert Burrell was from Halifax, a shipment of four Lewis guns and an agony for many passengers. Lloyd Wickwire tons of coal a day & fired in shifts of 4 hrs on & “Surprised to see two ladies on the quarter deck, 20,000 rounds of rifle ammunition from Canada of the 193rd Battalion remembered little of his 8 off. “63 as I had imagined we were entirely a male went astray on arrival.57 In April 1917, she tim e on Olympic during the voyage to Liverpool population on board.”52 shipped 1000 hospital beds, mattresses, in the fall of 1916. He was seasick most of the blankets and assorted materials, belonging to On arrival in the United Kingdom, it was way and did not eat much. He and his more “hurry up and wait” as the troops prepared Two trips from Halifax, in July and the Ontario Government, for delivery to the companions did little except walk the decks and for boarding the trains that would take them to November 1917, were dedicated to carrying Orpington Military Hospital in England.58 look around the ship, no doubt keeping close to their respective camps. Harry Spencer, for hired labourers from China, referred to as Officially a Royal Mail Ship, Olympic also carried the railing.48 example, wrote that he “reported in full dress at “coolies”, who were members of the Chinese mail throughout the war. For example, in June nine a.m., waited in line till 11:15 a.m. when we Labour Battalions and scheduled to work behind 1918 Olympic left Southhampton for Halifax A stormy crossing added a full day and a lot went off ship, walked a short distance sat down the lines on the Western Front. In mid November with 2704 bags of Post Office mails and 7 bags of discomfort to the return crossing from and ate lunch. Got on train at 2:15 p.m.”64 1917, the Manager of the White Star-Dominion of fleet mail.59 Liverpool to Halifax. Diary entries by the SMO, Line’s Montreal office advised Commander R. Colonel Leprohon, record a number of storms Caring for the Wounded L. Stephens at Naval Service Headquarters, that Activities and Entertainment during several Atlantic crossings. “All night the CPR was carrying “6300 Coolies”, to arrive n her return trips to Canada from England, furious gale and boat pitching heavily”, he wrote nce underway, soldiers were assigned to in Halifax on the 19th and 21st.53 The O lym p ic brought back thousands of on 18 March 1918. “A great number of people various work parties to keep them busy. O embarkation of the first complement of these O wounded soldiers and hundreds of civilians, sick.... Waves are mountainous high.”49 In “After bkfst they started fatigue parties going”, Chinese labourers started at noon on 19 wrote Herbert Burrell in September 1916, “& I including women and children who had gone to 64 65 England to be near their husbands during their arrival in Halifax harbour, was a difficult one were required to wear gauze masks at all times ram m ed and sank U-103 in the English Channel. training.65 On one occasion, her passengers for the severely wounded men. Until then, except during meals, with the masks being Some reports suggested that two submarines included Russian soldiers assigned to duty with wounded soldiers were always disembarked washed in a disinfectant solution daily. Those were destroyed in that interaction, but the the Canadian Siberian Expeditionary Force. from the ship onto lighters before Olympic passengers who showed symptoms of flu during second was not confirmed.74 Thus Olympic Repatriated prisoners of war, soldiers on special docked at Pier 2. But on 13 October, a complaint the voyage were confined to the ship’s hospital became the only troopship during the First World and compassionate leave, and immigrants were from a Mr. McCoy, a local official concerned with and serious cases were handed over to the War to sink an enemy submarine. also amongst her return passengers. looking after returned soldiers, pointing out the authorities on arrival in port. At the height of discomfort that this caused, came to the the flu pandemic there were as many as 12 Armistice and Demobilization On each return voyage from Britain, a Senior attention of the Military Hospitals Commission. serious cases of influenza in the hospital at once. Medical Officer was aboard, charged with caring ly m p ic was outward bound from “It is nothing but absolute cruelty to have badly Deaths at sea were not uncommon. By January Southampton to New York in the closing for the medical needs of the returning soldiers O wounded soldiers brought down the gangway, 1919, the incidence of infection had decreased days of the war and docked in New York on 10 and civilians. His duties began with an inspection into the lighter”, wrote MacCoy. “Up to date we to about nine per sailing and the requirements of the passengers as they arrived at the ship. November 1918. On her return trip to have had good weather, but when the rough for the use of masks was dropped.70 Southampton there were few people on board While on board, the duties included daily tours weather comes it is cruelty of the worst kind. of the ship, sick parades, and treatment of any and she was met by destroyers for the last time. We would not treat a sick cat that way... ”67 As a Ferrying American Troops With the end of the war and demobilization, illnesses or injuries. The day before arrival in result, the Hospitals Commission requested that hen the USA entered the war on 6 April O lym pic was again tasked with carrying port he inspected the men for vermin and in future the wounded be taken off after docking, 1917, it had virtually no modern troop thousands of Canadian soldiers, this time all in infectious, venereal, and transmittable skin which was approved by Naval Service W transports capable of carrying the huge numbers a westward direction towards their homeland. diseases. The SMO was usually assisted by a Headquarters in November.68 medical party and several nursing sisters. of soldiers that it proposed sending to the front. As a consequence, in November 1917, General The first trip to Halifax from Southampton Olympic maintained a well-equipped medical On a voyage that departed Liverpool on 8 Frank T. Hines, who had the responsibility of with a load of 5388 returning Canadian soldiers dispensary on C deck. Sick parades were held March 1918, the SMO inspected the ship, and moving the American Expeditionary Force from was a very different affair from the previous trips, in the dispensary as it was adjacent to the roomy, sent ashore two cases judged to be unfit for travel the USA to Europe, requested that Britain’s when she had carried wounded soldiers and sheltered deck, which had a number of benches. (epilepsy and orchitis). He also had 15 men, who Ministry of Shipping make available to the US civilians. Medical staff complained that troops The main hospital on C deck aft had 60 cots were crippled and unable to sleep in hammocks, Army the three liners, Aquitania, M auretania had no desire to follow the established with an additional 27 cots in an adjoining space. moved to an upper deck where access to latrines an d O lym pic.71 The British agreed and the regulations for avoiding the influenza.75 When Moreover, three staterooms on C deck were and other facilities was more convenient.69 Olympic arrived in Halifax on 14 December available for semi-isolation of invalids. Extra Olympic began the penultimate phase of her 1918, she was met by cheering crowds and a isolation quarters were available in twelve During the great influenza pandemic in the wartime career as a carrier primarily of flotilla of smaller boats. At this time, Olympic staterooms on D deck aft.66 winter of 1918-1919, the entire ship was American troops. She arrived in New York on was still in her dazzle colours and Canadian war disinfected in Southampton prior to Christmas Day to pick up her first load of troops, artist Arthur Lismer made several sketches of A trip from Liverpool to Halifax on 1 October embarkation. Passengers were examined upon departing on 12 January 1918. 72 her bearing her last coat of this disruptive paint 1916, was a landmark for returning wounded boarding the ship and suspected infected cases Between February and June 1918, Olympic pattern. As he wrote in a letter to Eric Brown, Canadians soldiers. This, O lym pic's eig h th were put ashore. Olympic’s passengers and crew made five trips to Halifax and then New York Director of the National Galleiy, on 24 December: from Liverpool or Southampton carrying “The ‘Olympic’ which has carried so many of the Wounded Canadians on Olympic entering Halifax, October 1916 wounded soldiers and civilians. On these trips Canadians over, docked here last week. It was a she typically carried over 2000 military magnificent sight - & is the most typical of all convalescents, civilians, women, and children. such subjects - there will be many such of course The return trips took more American soldiers & I shall have good opportunity to study them.”76 to Britain. Most voyages stopped in Halifax first, Later, in early 1919, he used these sketches as then proceeded to New York to embark troops. he worked on his painting ‘Olympic’ with Other trips proceeded directly to New York. On Returned Soldiers, which he completed in one occasion, on 31 January 1918, Olympic August. Captain Hayes recorded that Olympic departed Liverpool for New York with 2300 resumed her peaceful garb in February 1919 and Canadians on board (250 officers, 2000 other the Red Ensign was once again hoisted in place ranks, and 50 civilians), who then had to of the White.77 disembark at New York and return to Canada by tra in .73 Despite her return to peace-time colours, Olympic nontheless remained busy ferrying On her 22nd troop-carrying voyage in late Canadian soldiers back home. The wear and tear April 1918, en route from Southampton to New of her troop carrying duties obviously took their York, a German submarine made an toll, with Private Gray noting in his Diary after unsuccessful attack on Olympic. On her return boarding her at Southhampton on 10 May 1919 from New York, Olympic turned the tables and to return home that “The Olympic seems in dirty
67 Photo by H.J. Woodside, NAC PA 16791 Woodside, NAC PA by H.J. Photo Above: Nurses and Officers on HMT Olympic 21 April thousands across Canada, personal 8. Ibid. Vol. 2, E.H. Martin. Captain Superintendant, 1917. remembrances of the ship and her wartime Dockyard, Halifax to Secretary, Naval Service Headquartres, Ottawa. 7 September 1916. efforts are no longer common. Doubtless some 9. Ibid. Naval Service Headquarters, Ottawa, to Below: Canadian troops boarding Olympic in Southampton of the very diminished band of First World War Admiralty, London, 13 April 1916. in mid April 1919. Olympic is in her new peacetime paint veterans still alive have untapped recollections 10. Ibid. Admiralty, London, to Naval Services colours, note nurses waving from dock. of sailing on her, but unfortunately these will Headquarters, Ottawa, 20 March 1916. 11. C anadian War M useum (CWM) Archives 58A 1 90.11, bearing wounded soldiers and civilians before almost certainly be lost. Transport across the Harry Storey Spencer Diary 27 April 1917. the Armistice, and seven return trips after. The Atlantic was an important preliminary aspect of 12. Maritime Museum of British Columbia, Cat. No. the service of all Canadians who went overseas 989.02. Post Card, Harold Allen to Trio Photographer, total number of Canadians carried back to Victoria, B.C. 31 May 1916. Canada was about 58,000, 16,000 before and and it is one that has not often been discussed 42,000 after the Armistice. in print. It is hoped that the foregoing has provided some taste of what this entailed and of Postwar History the important contribution made by Olympic and vessels like her to Canada’s war effort and n August 1919, O lym pic began a major the wartime experience of Canadians. Ioverhaul at Harland & Wolff in Belfast. Completely reconditioned and converted to oil Acknowledgements burning, she resumed passenger service across the Atlantic from Southampton in July 1920. The author would like to Dr. Roger Sarty of the For the next 15 years she served on the Atlantic Canadian War Museum, who encouraged the run, continuing to provide reliable and economic initial archival research into the stray of Olympic service. In the late 1920s further reconstruction as a troopship: Carol Reid, CWM, who helped and modernization was undertaken, and in with CWM archival material; and his Aunt, Olive 1933-34 her engines were overhauled. At the Collington, and cousin Barbara Collington Ritter, same time, a merger occurred between the for preserving and transcribing his Cunard and White Star lines, and the next year, Grandfather’s war diaries. she was withdrawn from service and finally broken up in 1937. Several complete rooms and hundreds of fittings were sold at auction and Notes preserved, many of which can still be seen in various locations in Britain.79 Some original wooden wall panelling from Olympic h a s been 1. B. Hayes, Hull Down; or Reminiscences of Wind installed in “The Olympic Restaurant” on jammers, Troops and Travellers, (New York: Macmillan, 1925) . Celebrity Cruises newest ship, Millennium, 2. A. Kludas, Great Passenger Ships of the World, Vol. I. condition. Pipes and all plumbing seems out of completed in 2000.80 1858-1912, (Cambridge; Patrick Stephens, 1975), p order.”78 It was clearly time for “Old Reliable” to 179. undergo a refit. The Canadian Legacy 3. T.M. McCluskey, M. Sharpe, and L. Marriott, Titanic & Her Sisters Olympic & Britannic, (London: PRC t the end of the war, the people of Halifax Publishing. 1999), p. 202. On 21 July 1919 O lym pic arrived in showed their appreciation for O lym pic’s 4. Hayes, Hull Down. p. 187. Liverpool after her final few voyages as a A 5. N ational Archives of C anada (NAC) RG 24 Vol. 3722 service through the presentation of a silver tray troopship. In her three-and-one-half years of 1048-21-24 vol. 1, R.G. Mitchell, Assistant Manager, to her captain, inscribed to Captain Bertram ferrying troops across the Atlantic she had White Star-Dominion Line. Montreal to G.J. Hayes, “In recognition of his services as Desbarats, Deputy Minister, Naval Service carried some 72.000 Canadians to war and Commander of H.M. Transport Olympic during Headquartes, Ottawa. 20 March 1916. brought at least 58,000 back home. There were 6. Ibid. Navy Yard. Halifax, to Naval Service the World War. December 16th, 1918.” 81 14 voyages from Halifax, 12 of them carrying an Headquarters. Ottawa, 20 Marchl916.) Although most Canadians who served in the First average of 6000 Canadian troops each, for a total 7. Ibid. Vol. 1. E.H. Martin, Captain Superintendant, World War travelled on one of 24 other troop Dockyard, Halifax to Secretary, Naval Service of 72,000 Canadian troops carried to war, in transport vessels, nonetheless Olympic carried Headquarters, Ottawa, 4 April 1916. addition to 12,000 members of the Chinese overseas the equivalent of about four Canadian Labour Battalion. In 1918, she made eight trips divisions.She became a very familiar sight in bearing American troops, which, with 6000 each, Top: Handing out cigarettes to troops aboard HMT Halifax Harbour and, indeed, Arthur Lismer’s would have amounted to a total of 48,000. In Olympic, Halifax, NS, circa 1919. well-known sketches of her in the port in 1918 total, then, O lympic carried approximately have given her a kind of iconic status amongst Middle: “All aboard for Vancouver, 72nd Bn boys on the 132,000 across the ocean to the war effort. As the vessels that transported Canadians during Olympic." (1919?) for return trips, she made eight trips to Halifax the war. Although Olympic was once known by Bottom: “Home coming of the Canadian 'Soldiers of the 68 King’ - The ocean greyhound ‘Olympic’ arriving at Halifax, the 3rd most important port in the world with over 5000 troops aboard.” 13. Gray Family Collection, John Gray to Mrs. J Gray 52. CWM Archives, H.H. Burrell Diary, 18 September and family, Victoria, B.C. 25 July 1916. 1916. 14. CWM Archives, 58A 1 92.10-13, Herbert Hecford 53 NAC RG 24 Vol. 3723, 1048-21-24, vol. 5. M acDonald Burrell Diary, 18 September 1916. !?), White Star-Dominion Line to Commander R.L. 15. Gray Family Collection, John Gray to Mrs. J. Gray Stephens, Naval Service Headquarters, Ottawa, 16 and Family, Victoria, B.C. 25 July 1916. November 1917. 16. CWM Archives 58A 1 8.6, Captain Edward Fidler 54. Hayes, Hull Down, p. 203. Diary, 31 May 1916. 55. NAC RG 24 Vol. 3723 1048-21-24 vol. 6. Passenger 17. NACRG24 Vol. 3722. 1048-21-24 vol.4. Naval Service Department, White Star-Dominion Line, to Chief of Headquarters, Ottawa, to Admiralty London. 21 December 1916. Staff, Naval Service Headquarters, Ottawa, 24 November 1917. 18. Hugh MacLennan, Barometer Rising, (New York: 56. Ibid. vol. 5. Navy Yard. Halifax, to Naval Service Duell, Sloan and Pierce, 1941), p. 55. Headquarters, Ottawa, 24 November 1917. 19. NAC RG 24 Vol. 5671 NSS 80-1-3, L t.-C om m ander 57. Ibid. vol. 3. Major E.J. Renaud, Canadian Ordnance R.A. Barber, Commanding Officer, HMCS Stadacona, Depot, Kent, to the Director of Transports, Admiralty, to Senior Officer Patrols, Halifax, 7 April 1917. London, 7 March 1917. 20. Gray Family Collection, John Gray to Mrs. J. Gray 58. Ibid. Admiralty, London to Naval Service and Family, Victoria, B.C. 25 July 1916 21. Ibid. Headquarters. Ottawa, 5 April 1917. 59. Ibid. Deciphered message, Admiralty, London to Naval 22. CWM Archives, Captain Edward Fidlar Diary, 31 Mav 1916. Service Headquarters, Ottawa. June 1918 60. CWM Archives, H.H. Burrell Diary, 19 September 23. Gray Family Collection, John Gray to Mrs. J. Gray 1916. and Family, Victoria, B.C. 25 July 1916 24. Ibid. 61. CWM Archives, Captain Fidlar Diary, 2 June 1916. 62. CWM Archives, H.H. Burrell Diary, 22 September 25. CWM Archives, H.S. Spencer Diary, 28 April 1917. 1916. 26. Gray Family Collection, John Gray to Mrs. J. Gray 63. CWM Archives, Captain Fidlar Diary, 5 June 1916. and Family. 25 July 1916. 27. Ibid. 64. CWM Archives, H.S. Spencer Diary, 7 May 1917. 65. Hayes, Hull Down, p. 201. 28. CWM Archives, Captain Fidlar Diary, 1 June 1916. 29. Hayes, Hull Down. p. 199. 66. NAC RG 150 Vol. 353, File FD 91, C aptain K.H. Van Norman, CAMC, to AMD2. Report on Sailing No. 91, 30. NAC RG 24 Vol. 3723 1048-21-24 vol. 3. Navyard 9 December 1918. Halifax to Naval Service Headquartes, Ottawa. 13 October 1916. 67. Ibid. RG 24 Vol. 3723, 1048-21-24 vol. 3, W.F. Moore, Quebec to E.H. Scammel, Military Hospitals 31. NAC RG 24 Vol. 3722 1048-21-24 vol. 2. D eciphered Commission, Ottawa, 13 October 1916. message, Navy Yard, Bermuda to Naval Services 68. Ibid. G.J. Desbarats, Deputy Minister, Naval Service Headquarters, Ottawa. 28 June 1916. Headquarters, Ottawa to Secretary, Military Hospitals 32. CWM Archives 58A 1 12.8 Colonel Edouard Travers Commission, 22 November 1916. Leprohon Diary, 14 March 1918. 69. Ibid. RG 150 Vol. 349, Capt. W.B. McDermott, CAMC, 33. CWM Archives, H.H. Burrell Diary, 19 September 1916. SMO, War Diary, 7-20 March 1918. 70. Ibid. RG 150 Vol. 352 FD 86, Lt. Col. F.C. Bell, AMD 34. CWM Archives, H.S. Spencer Diary, 3 May 1917 35. Ibid. 5 May 1917. to Capt. Van Norman, CAMC, 6 Jan. 1919. 36. Ibid. 4 May 1917. 71. S. Harding, Great Liners at War, (Osceda, WI: Motorbooks, 1997), p. 89. 37. Interview with Lloyd Wickwire by author, 4 November 72. Hayes, Hull Down, p. 221. 1998. 73. NAC RG 150 Vol. 349 FD 2, C aptain, for D irector of 38. CWM Archives, Captain Fidlar Diary, 7 June Mav 1916. J Supplies & Transport, OMFC, London to DMS, Canadians, 24 January 1918. 39. CWM Archives, H.S. Spencer Diaiy, 5-6 May 1917. 74. Hayes, Hull Down, p. 233. 40. Kludas, Great Passenger Ships, p. 184-185. 41. Hayes, Hull Down, p. 207. 75. NAC RG 150 Vol. 353 FD 91, Lt.-Col. P.K. Menzies, 42. Ibid. p. 207. CAMC, SMO, HMS Olympic, Toronto to DGMS Canadians AMD, London, 19 December 1918. 43. NAC RG 24 Vol. 3723 1048-21-24 vol. 4. Navy Yard, 76. A. Lismer to E. Brown, 24 December 1918, in Gemey Halifax, to Naval Service Headquarters, Ottawa 23 April 1917. Kelly, Arthur Lismer: Nova Scotia, 1916-1919. (Halifax: Dalhousie Art Gallerey, 1982), p. 27. 44. Ibid. Vol. 3723, 1048-21-24 vol. 3. A dm iralty London 77. Hayes, Hull Down, p. 243. to Naval Service Headquartes, Ottawa, 16 May 1916. 78. Gray Family Collection, John Gray Diary, 10 Mav 45. Ibid. R. M. Stephens, Halifax, to Maj. Gen. G. W. 1919. Gwatkin, Chief of General Staff, Department of Militia 79. T.M. McCluskey, M. Sharpe, and L. Marriott, Titanic and Defence, Ottawa, 10 May 1917. & Her Sisters Olympic & Britannic, (London: PRC 46. CWM Archives, Captain Fidlar Diary, 2 June 1916. Publishing, 1999), p. 208-223. 47. CWM Archives, H. H. Burrell Diary, 20 September 1916. 80. Internet 12 December 2001