In 1915 Canada was still clinging to the skirts of Mother England. During times of war, the young must fight and only one year previous, the British Empire had joined World War I bringing with it, fledgling Canada.
Life in remote Granite Creek and Coalmont in 1915 was not blind to the battles on far-off shores. Stories of war had reached the residents. Those who couldn’t join the fight did what they could to help the cause. A meeting in Princeton organized by Lieutenant-Colonel William Norman Winsby roused the locals and it was decided that Princeton and the surrounding towns would begin a “Machine Gun Fund” for the 47th Battalion. Two weeks would be allowed for subscriptions to be collected.
Lieutenant-Colonel Winsby was the commander of the 47th which was mobilized in New Westminster with recruitments made in New Westminster, Victoria and Vancouver. The 47th Battalion, which was authorized on November 7, 1914 served in France and Flanders. The Battalion was disbanded in 1920.
Foxcrowle Percival Cook oversaw the collection of money in Granite Creek and Louis Napoleon Marcotte canvassed nearby Coalmont. Men, women, teens, shopkeepers, Chinese, and prospectors gave what they could. Donations ranged from 50¢ to a whopping $30 by F.P. Cook. Even Madam Hattie McBride donated $5. An Ice Cream Social held at the Granite Creek Hotel raised $12.30 and a “lucky dollar” was thrown into the pot. In all, $116.30 was raised by the locals in Granite Creek and Coalmont.
The following was reported in the July 29, 1915 Coalmont “Spasm” newspaper:
“The ‘Machine Gun Party’ given at the Granite Creek Hotel Saturday night last was a complete success. Much credit is due the Cook girls for the enterprising methods adopted, assuring all in attendance a good time…The proceeds from the ‘Gun Party’ are sufficient we understand to purchase all the Machine Guns necessary to an army corps.”
During WW1, more than 650,000 Canadian troops were mobilized. Over 66,000 were killed and more than 172,000 were wounded. May we never forget the sacrifices these brave men and women made for our country.
Somebody’s Son
Somebody’s Son has volunteered to risk his life for you…
Somebody’s Son is far from home and the things that homefolk do…
Somebody’s Son for your Freedom’s sake is preparing himself for War…
Somebody’s Son deserves your help for it’s YOU he’s fighting for!
Somebody’s Mother is giving her boy in a Cause that’s yours as well…
Somebody’s Wife knows a loneliness that only her heart can tell…
Somebody’s Mother and Somebody’s Wife are doing all they can do…
Somebody prays that some others may care – and the answer is up to YOU!
Somebody’s Son in the days to come must meet the bitter Test…
Somebody’s Man for our Freedom’s plan in a foreign field may rest…
Somebody’s Job is to care for them NOW – for on them all our hopes depend…
Somebody’s Job is to dig up the cash and that Somebody’s YOU, my friend!
(poem from the Similkameen Star, February 26, 1942)
