The medical services / [Sir Andrew Macphail].

  • Andrew Macphail
Date:
1925
Catalogue details

Licence: In copyright

Credit: The medical services / [Sir Andrew Macphail]. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    Following the example of the War Office, an advisory committee on questions connected with mobilization was established at Militia Headquarters.14 It was charged with the task of preparing and revising regulations governing the mobilization of the Canadian militia, and first met on January 7th, 1910. In July, 1911, Colonel W. G. Gwatkin was brought back to Canada as general staff officer, and was made president of the committee. The result was the publication of “ Mobilization Regulations (Provisional) printed in 1912, and known as H.Q. 1257,15 1913. The instructions provided for the mobilization of all militia units in Canada;—one infantry division and certain cavalry, fortress, and lines of communication units, from each of the six divisional areas, as well as the three mounted brigades which, with independent units, then existed in the three military districts of the West. The plan con¬ tained general directions of procedure on mobilization, and detailed instructions relating to personnel, horses, transport, war outfit, pay, purchasing, and emergency requisitions. It set forth that units which existed as such in time of peace should carry out mobilization at their peace headquarters; it directed that local orders dealing with other cases and supplementing the regulations should be prepared by divisional and district committees. Quite apart from the mobilization of the Canadian militia, the military staff dealt separately with the measures which should be taken in case “one day the Dominion Gov¬ ernment might decide to mobilize for active service overseas a Canadian contingent.” The problem was considered in August, 1911, by Colonel Gwatkin who, in forwarding for the remarks of district commanders proposals for a scheme16 to raise a contingent of 24,352 all ranks, wrote that “ in view of what is now going on in Europe the C.G.S. wishes this scheme to be kept secret,” and cautioned that
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