Item
The Boer War
Beacon
Oct 19/1899
War with the Boers
Canada will send one Thousand Volunteers to Aid the Mother Land
Beacon
Nov 16/1899
True to the Colors
St. Andrews People Loyal to the Red, White and Blue
Patriotic Concert in Memorial Hall Patronized by all Classes
St. Andrews has safely passed through another military excitement. It wasn’t a Fenian raid this time, but a patriotic concert, which came off on Thursday night last, and to add to the effectiveness of the affair it was decreed by the committee that the gentlemen participating therein should appear in military costume. Old uniforms and rusty swords that hadn’t seen the light of day for a quarter of a century were dug out for the occasion and refurbished, and a dozen or more modern uniforms were contributed by the St. Stephen military. The presence of so many bright costumes, combined with the large and overflowing audience which gathered in Memorial hall, made a picture which will not soon be forgotten by those who attended. Every class and creed was represented in the audience; indeed, it is doubtful if a more representative gathering ever assembled in the town.
The platform was a blaze of glory. From the ceiling in the background depended long steamers of red, white and blue, surmounted at the top by the crown. The rear wall of the platform was covered with British flags, save where a large portrait of the Queen was suspended. Above the portraits were the crown and the letters V.R. in gold. The front of the platform over the curtain was ornamented with the British coat of arms. British flags hung on either side of the curtain, and a drapery of red along the front, from the auditorium floor to the floor of the platform. Disposed upon the platform was an excellent representation on a small scale of two army tents, each with its tiny British flag floating on the breeze over the entrance. Several stacks of rifles, a sword hung here and there, a huge drum with a soldier’s helmet laid carelessly upon it, and a kettle drum, added to the effectiveness of the military picture. When the colored lights were turned upon the stage settings (as they were during the tableaux) the picture was a very inspiring one. The rear wall of the auditorium was decorated with flags of Britain and the United States blended together. . . . At the sound of the bugle peal by Mr. J. Handy, every one stood at “attention” while the chairman of the committee, Mr. R. E. Armstrong, delivered a brief introductory address. [Précis of Armstrong’s patriotic remarks here]
Beacon
Jan 18, 1900
Interesting letter from Trooper Mallory
Through the kindness of Mr. W. E. Mallory, Beacon readers are permitted to read the following admirable letter from his son, Trooper Edward Peters Mallory, who enlisted at St. John for Africa:--
[This letter dated Jan 10, 1900, from Halifax. Accompanying photo courtesy of Harold Climo, St. John. Mallory is 22 years old, and his troop is No. 4 Troop, B. Squadron, Canadian Contingent. He sends home many letters over the next few months. After his return he became a CPR man of importance in Montreal, as Harry Mallory remembered]
Beacon
Feb 1, 1900
It is stated that owing to the congested sate of the CPR at the ocean terminus in Saint John, the railway people are considering the advisability of shipping an African hay cargo from St. Andrews. This would be a good idea. [The hay would be for horses in the Boer war, all in the news for the last few months] [Letter from trooper Mallory in Halifax in this or previous issue; photo of him in January issue]
Beacon
Feb 8, 1900
Lord Strathcona, who is equipping a troop of Canadian soldiers from his private purse to aid Great Britain, is a citizen of SA, being the owner of large piece of property here. St. Andrews people feel particularly proud of the broad-spirited patriotism of their distinguished fellow-citizen. [Strathcona’s Horse]
Beacon
March 1, 1900
Lord Strathcona’s Last Princely Gift
One of the most princely gifts contributed by a single individual to the assistance of the empire in the present African crisis has been the troop of Canadian horsemen, which has been equipped by Lord Strathcona, Canadian High Commissioner in London, and known as “The Strathcona Horse.” This is not the first time that Lord Strathcona has made a public contribution of a noble character, nor is it the first time he has given a practical demonstration of his devotion to the empire. The troop of horsemen, which he has equipped from his private purse, are picked men, the very flower of our western manhood—men who have been brought up in the saddle, who have been a almost born with a rifle in their hands, and who have spent the grater part of their lives in the rough and tumble experiences of the western prairies. There can be no finer body of men anywhere and no expense has been spared to equip them with the most effective accoutrements of war.
Perhaps a word or two about the man who has contributed this princely gift may not be amiss at this time. Sir Donald Alexander Smith, Lord Strathcona and Mount Stephen, G. C. M.G. these are his full titles), was born in Morayshire, Scotland, in 1821. Like mot young Scotchmen he received a good English and classical education: Medicine, says his biographer, was the subject to which he was at first attracted, but he relinquished this pursuit and in 1938 entered the service of the Hudson Bay Company. His first assignment was at a place called Mingan, one of the most desolate spots on the desolate coast of Labrador. The qualities of indomitable energy and stern self-reliance, which have marked his career as a public man, were, even more marked as a servant of the Hudson Bay Company. He was advanced step by step, until he reached the exalted position of local Governor for the Hudson’s Bay Company. Only a man of extraordinary character could have gained such a position under the circumstances. His name first appeared in Canadian history when the transfer of the North-West territories was under negotiation. He was at that time Governor of the H. B. Company. When the Red River Rebellion broke out in 1869, Mr. Donald A Smith was appointed a commissioner by the Canadian government and empowered to proceed to Fort Garry and endeavor to settle the difficulties which had arisen. With such tact did he perform the delicate duty assigned to him that he succeeded in bringing about the sending of delegates to Ottawa and a temporary suspension of hostilities. For these and other services he was in 1886 created a Knight Commander of the Order of St. Michael and St. George. Mr. Smith had the distinction of being the lat resident Governor of the H. B. Company. Subsequently, for several years, he was chief commissioner of the Company and afterwards Governor of the Board of London. He was appointed a member of the first Executive and Legislative Council of the North-West Territory. In 1870 he was elected the first member for Winnipeg in the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba. On the final admission of Manitoba to the Canadian Confederation he was, in 1871, elected to the Dominion parliament as member for Selkirk. In 1887 he was elected for Montreal West, and represented that constituency until he was appointed High Commissioner in 1896. He was appointed to the Peerage by the Queen in 1897. One of the most important periods in his life was that in which he was connected with the building of the CPR. In 1880, in conjunction with Sir George Stephen and others, he undertook the construction of the road, and so rapidly and effectively did they perform their work that in 1885 he was privileged to be present at the driving of the last spike.
Among the princely benefactions of this wealthy Canadian Lord have been the following:--$500,000 to the Royal Victoria hospital, Montreal, in commemoration of Her Majesty’s Jubilee; $320,000 toward Female Higher Education in Montreal; and $100,000 for the founding of the Royal Victoria College for women, besides many smaller amounts for charitable enterprise. In 1888, when the summer resort movement first seriously began in SA, Sir Donald Smith became a property owner here. He also invested of his means in the Algonquin hotel. Though he has never been able to carry out his idea of erecting summer residence in SA, he is still in sympathy with the ambitions of the place.
Beacon
May 3/1900
Another letter from W. E. Mallory’s son in South Africa. Also photo. E. P. Mallory.
Beacon
May 3/1900
Lord Strathcona has just contributed 25,000 to the Ottawa relief fund.
Beacon
May 10, 1900
More letters from trooper Mallory.
Beacon
June 7/1900
Another letter from Trooper Mallory
Beacon
June 14/1900
Another letter from Trooper Mallory
Beacon
June 28/1900
Another letter from trooper Mallory.
Beacon
August 2/1900
Another Boer War Letter from trooper Mallory.
Beacon
June 11/1908
Edwin P. Mallory finally returns home from S. Africa, only person from St. Andrews to volunteer for Boer War. Given hearty welcome.
Beacon
June 18/1908
Committee, including R. E. Armstrong, presents E. P. Mallory with silver cup. Speech made.
Description of silver cup presented to Edwin Mallory plus inscription.
St. Croix Courier
June 21/1945
Shiretown Items
Shiretown Items—Visits Old Home (History of William Knijff of Holland)
Having left Holland at the tender age of four years, Willem Knijff had little recollection of his native village of Lekerkirk (near Rotterdam) but it was a great and pleasant experience to visit those almost forgotten scenes of his childhood and look up some of his mother’s people. He found the home of one of his aunts and came upon her as she was working in the garden. He said: “Hello, there” in English. She raised her head, and repeated his greeting in Dutch. She advanced and carefully inspected this young man dressed in the uniform of corporal in the Netherlands Army and at length declared: “You must be Willem Knijff. Yes, I am sure you are little Willem.” No longer little, but now a strapping solder of 23 years old, [1922] Willem was overjoyed at the greeting, and spent several happy hours with his folks. Willem’s parents, Mr. and Mrs. A. A. Knijff, came to Canada 19 years ago. They lived for a short time at Grand Manan, a little while at Bayside, then moved to St. Andrews where they have since made their home. Mr. Knijff fought in the Boer War against us and often refers jokingly to the vagaries of life which can induce one to establish a home among his hoe-time enemies and find that they are good people, friendly and lovable. Those who have read the history of the Boer War written by a Dutch soldier, know that their cause was just. They fought to preserve their homes and country and we fought for gold and diamonds. As Willem had been born in Holland and had never been naturalized as a Canadian citizen he got a call from the Netherlands Army early in the war. He began his training at the Dutch Military Depot in Stratford, ON, and completed it in “England. He was sent to India, then back to England, took part in the invasion with the American air-borne troops, was attached to British Commandos at the capture of Walcheren Island, returned to England to recover from an injury sustained there and was again in Holland at the final liberation. One day while on Walcheren Island, Willem was browsing around a village with a couple of Canadian soldier sand met a native who thought he could speak English. The boys listened to a rather fruitless and disjointed harangue about some place of interest they should visit and when their informant got through Willem spoke in Dutch, saying: “If you would peak in your own language I think we could understand better what you are talking about.” The native’s eyes stuck out as he replied in astonishment: “Can you boys speak Dutch?” “Sure” said Bill, “everybody in Canada can speak Dutch!”
St. Croix Courier
July 15, 1945
Shiretown Items
Edwin P. Mallory
We were indeed sorry to hear of the death in Montreal of Ed. Mallory, a boyhood friend and schoolmate. Ed. was to have retired this fall to enjoy a well-earned rest after manyyears spent in office work with the CNR. He left here as a young man to enlist in the boer War. He remained in South Africa for several years and met his wife there. Returning to Canada he secured employment with CNR and rose to a respectable position in the office fo the president, to which service he has givethe best years of his life. Trhoughotu his entire life he had no hobby other than his work, and the preoblem of how he would spend his time during his enforced leisure afer retiring, and to which he has given much thought during the past year or tow has been thus suddenly solved for him by a power which doeth all things well.