From the St. Lawrence to the Yser with the 1st Canadian brigade

This is a history book. Before the war the Canadian Militia consisted of about 75, 000 of all ranks and all grades of efficiency. To a neutral eye it must have appeared to be in a highly disorganised condition, for battalions and corps had sprung up here and there throughout the country with no proportion existing between them and the other arms of the service. And yet within a short two months after the outbreak of hostilities a complete division, armed and equipped, landed in England, and in a bare six months were in the field holding their own line of trenches. To appreciate the difficulties, however, that attended this transformation we must look back to those happy days prior to August, 1914, and witness the Canadian Militia in its own home. This consisted of the 'Drill-hall', or 'Armouries', a long, low building equipped more or less with barred windows and castellated turrets at one or more corners. This building is one of the sights of the city, and is pointed out by the cabby or taxi-driver to the English gentlemen and other tourists who come out with the laudable intention of writing books. If the castellated towers are missing, and the building is constructed on strictly utilitarian lines, one is safe in referring to it as the 'Drill-hall'; but if a couple of old cannon, vintage 1800, guard its portals, and barred windows and frowning turrets add to its martial splendour, then you have an 'Armouries'. By observing this simple rule one can discriminate between the two as easily as telling a church from a cathedral.