Stories of Camp Life from the Vernon News

Thanks to Lorne Adamson at the Vernon Museum for these transcriptions

August 13, 1914: 30th BC Horse Busy Mobilizing
Orders were received last evening by Col. Bott to prepare at once for call for active service—expect to be ready tonight. The big armoury on Mission Hill was a scene of feverish activity this morning...The wished-for news was at once telephoned and telegraphed up and down the valley to the Kelowna, Enderby, Armstrong and Lumby contingents, and already out-of-town detachments were coming in.

Although disappointed at the order that they should mobilize as unmounted troops, the officers and men of the 30th had taken hold of the work with enthusiasm...Nobody knows what their movements will be: but it is hoped by them all that they will be called upon to cross the sea and take part in the great conflict as soon as possible. The men of the Okanagan have given their supreme pledge of devotion to their flag and country by enrolling for service. Their great desire nowis for an opportunity to render that service in the most effective manner possible.

June 10, 1915: Well-Behaved Men
Nearly every day sees some fresh arrivals at the camp, and there are now about 2,000 men under canvas on the hill. Two hundred recruits from Vancouver for the 47th arrived yesterday, and 1,000 men of the 54th are expected to reach here from Kootenay on Saturday.

Any apprehension that may have existed in certain quarters that the advent of such a large number of men would create disturbing problems as to the moral welfare of the town must have been pretty well removed by this time. A more orderly or well conducted crowd than the soldiers who throng the city streets in the evenings could not be desired. It is inevitable, of course, that among the thousands of soldiers who will train here, a few turbulent and unruly spirits may be found but we believe that the proportion of these is greatly less than among the same numbers of civilians. These men are here to prepare themselves for service, and they evidently fully realize this fact. They have offered the supreme sacrifice of self devotion to their country’s cause in enlisting to face the foe, and to them soldiering is no pastime or child’s play. They are a cheerful and happy looking crowd, but we believe that behind smiling faces is a grim determination to do their best when the time arrives, and an ardent desire to reach the scene of conflict and get into grips with the enemy at the earliest possible moment.

June 29, 1915: No Hard Liquor
Soon after his arrival here the Commandant held a meeting with the license commissioners and hotel men, at which he stated that he would tolerate no excessive use of liquor among the troops under his command. He was here, he said, to see that they were trained for efficient service as quickly and thoroughly as possible, and he would not permit this duty to be hampered in any way by overindulgence, in intoxicants by either officers or men under his control. He suggested that if possible the hotel keepers would co-operate with him to the extent of seeing that men in uniform were served with nothing stronger than beer. Under this arrangement no liquors except beer and soft drinks are served in any bar during the hours that the soldiers are down town. In order that no invidious distinction should be apparent the rule applies to civilians and soldiers alike, and between the hours of 4:30 and 9 p.m. nobody can obtain a drink of anything stronger than beer in any Vernon hotel.

July 15, 1915: Mobilization Camp
Citizen soldiers encamped at the Central Mobilization Camp on Mission Hill are rapidly rounding into that magnificent condition which has characterized their fellows on the battle line in France, and brought forth considerable praise from British army officers.

Route marches, continual drills, lectures in musketry and machine gun practice, the disposition of forces, first aid work, trench digging and bayonet fighting pack the soldiers’ days with incessant activity.

November 18, 1915: Such Fine Troops
His Royal Highness the Duke of Connaught is not wont to deal in superlatives and is noted as being a man of few words, yet this experienced soldier stated most emphatically during his visit here last summer that in all Canada he had not reviewed such fine troops and had seen no camp offering so many advantages for training as the one in Vernon. Major-General Lessard and Colonel J.A. Currie were equally emphatic in expressing their approval and the Camp Commandant, Colonel J. Duff Stuart, after a visit to Sewell and Sarcee, had no hesitation stating that the site and the climate here were greatly superior to those which came under his observation elsewhere.

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