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“Al-W I C C . As soldiers died overseas, local councrl struggled to respond to the First World War By James JACKSON the purchase of machine guns. Chm'til‘tt’ 510/7 On Aug. 12. 1915. council heard a resoâ€" lution from the Board ofTrade asking WWinathree-mnWamiooCl-mndcb councillors to support the board's efforts seriamarla'ngrheaenrenaqofrhe to raise $5,000 for the purchase of five _ First world War machine guns on behalf of the town. The move to approve the purchase was r l 1he this! World War quickly made its way eventually defeated by a motion from to the home front of (Ianada after (Ioun. Marvin H. Stroh. who argued Britain declared war on Germany on “machine guns should be provided by pri» 2' Aug. 4. 1914‘ vate subscription." not the town. . Life changed significantly for (ianadir The next day. however, a special coun» ’ ans as the switch to a wartime economy cil meeting was held and the town solici- ' took hold. and the ’lthi of Waterloo was tor was directed to draft a bylaw to raise no different With a population of less $2000 for the purchase oftwo guns. ' than 5,000 people at the tune. the war that motion was again re~visited just touched alrtiost every facet oflife three months later Council opted to take l‘ood prices spiked and there were con no steps to purchase arty machine guns. \ cerns about the delivery of iiul’tlpt't'lll' and instead decided to donate $50 per made goods. all Within a lew weeks. month for the next year to the local Red But while (lanadian history is pllnt‘tllr (Lross to purchase clothing or medicine. > ‘ tited by sweeping generalizations about “Clearly. council's divided over the the war effort and how the national idt'ntr issue." said Geoffrey Hayes of the Univer that Canada WOUtd dOUbte tts contribu- “’35 debating." said Coun. ScottWitmer. t) \sas forged on the battlefields oflztirope. sity ofWaterltm. a local history expert. tt0h 0t soldiers to the war 93-0" to half a “It's Something. thankfully that coun- thost- broad stories tend to neglett the “You get the sense there were two corir million men â€" an almost unfathomable Cit-5 for many. many years have M” had t“ \ery real and very difficult decisions made flitting sides." said current mayor Brenda number for a country With a population of discuss," he added. In towns and Villages across (:mada, llalloran " lo be thrust into this lwarl barely eight million Wonk. That Prom 'tt'3 3 tesmht to how our W‘lt‘tyhtt‘ . Hie minutes of Waterloo town council must have been quite the challenge." came at a time when recruitment rates Chansed.' said COUh- Mark Whaley. throughout the “at. 19H to l‘llB. provtde There is other ewdence throughout the were falling across Canada, and PUbttC Coun. Karen SCtah 5995 some parallels a rare insight into the minds of the politi- council documents of decisionrmakers WPPOI't for war was waning. th the mic or COUhC“ the" and hm”- Many Clans of that time as they struggled with struggling against the backdrop of a gloh- The influence 0t Waterloo's incentives 0t their wanime deCtStOhS dealt With “safe not only the logistics of getting volunteers iii. all-consuming war. Hayes said. 0" recruitment levels t5 dttfiCUtt t0 decifer. and healthy communities. and ensuring and supplies to “at. but ensuring life ( ar The town offered financial aid to new and "(TOMS show only about 75 men from people are looked after." she said ~ a role l'lt‘ti on here at home. recrtuts or nurses in HM, offering to pas the “WV" ofWaterlon Wt‘ht overseas to that hasn’t changed to this day. On New T. M l 4 (”Hill il det lam-d its lor uniforms and sortie equtprnent (Zoun fight during tht' Witt For (loun. lefi'llenry. the most thtt'tt"t' resolve to “assist rare and support“ the (‘li upped the ante iii 1916 when. on April Nth all ht the “’3”th tteCtStt)h5 0t "‘8 element is how council Ct’htthut'd families that send men overseas for nuli It), the) issued a tender to supply specially CUUhC“ mUSt hth' been dthUtt to make administering to the needs 0t its residents tary st‘rvH‘t‘. lll( ludirig payouts for the rel engraved wrist watches to all new recruits ‘ the motion t” *hd 51.0“) in aid t" ”at even as war raged overseas. aim-s of those who died . SHXX) for mat likely an atteitipt to boost recruitment ifax ““0th the devastating CXPt05t0h “t "A5 a councillor. VOL” th '3 t” make tied men and $300 for unmarried men. numbers. Hayes said ”it 6. ““7 was likely an easy one t0 “If” “”9 your community is prosperous and its l‘il G, however, emit-rice of the dmâ€" “One might argue these represent car Pt)" “’ nevertheless. the issues debated a thrtVthS and this would have ht?" a huge siveriess of their decisions begins to slum rots for a Situation that starts to unravel." (Pt‘tUFY at!“ are incomparable to today W“ t" that Oh the home f"mt-w he Said throughout the council minutes One of said Hayes The watches came just a few “Y0“ think about the hOt'bUttUh tS‘Ut’S Part three ofthis series Wt" 9X3mtht' th" the best examples of this uncertainty was months after Prime Minister Sir Robert WP'W‘ (”all With and I don't have a corn personal toll ofthc First World War after H whether or not the town should help fund Borden's announcement in lanuary lSHh 98'3“” t“ what tht‘ “mint” ”t that day t‘hdt‘d In '9'” f" ' ' fi‘" “’K‘x" " ' . l Notable town council decisions of the First World War (1914- 1918) ‘ i 19H ,, Promised payment to the families ofnervicernen killed ovum ($11!!) It IS]? â€" Allowed recruits and the [18th Battalion to use the Mt ofthe market building for rifle practice ‘ 1 married; $500 if unmarried). Reminded a year later in favour of insurance payouts on Saturdays t i 19I5 â€" Strongly encouraged preferential hiringolex-scrvice men upon their return. I917 â€" Approved $1.!!!) for unmdflafihxafiuaneupltidm destroyed much ofthe harbour. i Isleâ€"Apprmedatendersuppiytngermvedwristwatdiestonewmuits Istaâ€"ImhrationtiutNoanndNov.llMllbepublicholldayslntheTmofWaterloo. i [7,? T *:*:i‘ *h:4.‘:: * Â¥;‘Z;’i; : T\\K‘\"af. :. ‘â€". . r - , i , . . , From Dragon 5 Den to your BBQ. FlavorFork IS now available! i I » i i . .. , r W ‘ o ‘ ‘ Whatftengitwayaidpidttpmsafiieatwwwflmmwn" i . ”A‘N‘KE, \vxfirv. . i