Other Personaities in the Great WarThis section contains a listing of other important figures in the Great War Borden, Sir Robert Laird1854-1937 Robert Laird Borden was born in Grand Pré, Nova Scotia in 1854. He was elected to the House of Commons in 1896 and became leader of the Conservatives in 1901, succeeding Sir Charles Tupper to become the 8th Prime Minister of Canada. Of all the leaders of the Allied nations during the war, Borden was the only one who served as leader for the duration. In 1915, and again in 1917, Borden visited the Canadian troops in France. He became convinced that additional manpower would be required to win the war, and succeeded in dividing the country with his drive for conscription. Borden was a fierce proponent of an independent Canada, and was instrumental in setting in motion the events that led to Canada's sovereignty in 1931. In 1915 he became the first Canadian Prime Minister to attend a British Cabinet meeting. He insisted that Canada be a signatory to the Paris Peace Treaty (1919), using the contributions that Canada made during the war as a lever with the British and other Allies. Borden bluntly told British prime minister David Lloyd George in 1917: "The Dominions have fought in the war upon the principle of equal nationhood." That principle, he added: "has been consecrated by the efforts and sacrifices" of Canadian soldiers, and "it must be maintained." For more information, follow this link and this one Bruce, Herbert Alexander1868-1963 Inspector General of the Canadian Army Medical Corps, in 1916 he investigated medical practices in the C.A.M.C. and issued a Report on the Canadian Army Medical Service which urged a complete reogranization of the medical corps. His report was disowned by the government at the time and he was dismissed from his duties, though many of his recommendations were ultimately implemented. In 1919, he published Politics and the Canadian Army Medical Corps, criticizing the government for its actions. For more information, follow this link. Drummond, Lady Julie1860-1942 Julia Drummond, born Grace Julia Parker in Montreal in 1861. She married Reverend George Hamilton at the age of eighteen, but was widowed in 1880 at the age of nineteen. In 1884 she married widower George Alexander Drummond, who later became Sir George Drummond, K.C.M.G. (1829-1930.) During the First World War, Lady Drummond worked at the headquarters of the Canadian Red Cross in London, England. She established a department of information for the wounded and missing, which was funded primarily by her personal financial gifts. She received multiple honours for her work, including the: Médaille de Reconnaissance, the British Red Cross medal, and the Serbian Red Cross Medal during the war. Lady Drummond helped to organize and open, safe Hostels for men and women relocating there in the name of the war effort. For more information, follow this link. French, John Denton Pinkstone1852-1925 First Commander of the British Expeditionary Force (BEF), from 1914 to September, 1915 when he was replaced by Douglas Haig. For more information, follow this link. His Majesty George V1865-1936 King of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland. For more information, follow this link. Haig, Douglas1862-1928 Second Commander of the British Expeditionary Force (BEF) from September, 1915 when he was succeeded by John French. For more information, follow this link. Hughes, Samual1853-1921 Samuel Hughes, born January 8, 1853, was Canada's Minister of Militia at the outbreak of the Great War. When war was declared Hughes ignored the existing mobilization plans and instructed all the Militia to report to Valcartier, Quebec, a camp that he had built from scratch in three weeks outside of Quebec City. Hughes is most remembered for the procurement of faulty equipment for the CEF: the Ross Rifle, MacAdam shovel and cardboard shoes. Hughes clashed with Prime Minister Borden on numerous occasions and was eventually replaced as Minister in 1916. In a shameful speach in early 1919, protected by Parlimentary Privilege, he made unfounded and unproven allegations that General Sir Arthur Currie was responsible for the “needless massacre of our Canadian boys” and should be “tried summarily by court martial and punished so far as the law would allow.” For more information, follow this link. Kitchener, Horatio1850-1916 British Secretary of State for War. Responsible for massive recruitment of the "New Army". Died aboard the HMS Hampshire after striking a mine. For more information, follow this link. Roberts, Frederick1832-1914 Briitish soldier, former Commander-in-chief of the British Army. A key advocate of conscription before the Great War. For more information, follow this link.
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Personalities