The University at War: World War I
“...Saskatchewan has sent a
large proportion of men to the front. Indeed she leads Canadian universities
in the proportion near the battle-field at present. Approximately 20 per
cent of our men are now in active service.”
- The Sheaf, vol. 3, no. 6, April 1915
“War and the Canadian Universities”
In early August 1914, Britain and Canada
declared war against Germany; by 1 November 1914 the first group of University
of Saskatchewan student recruits marched to the train station, heading
for training in Winnipeg.
"The first draft to France" |
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God
save the Empire’s men
Long live the Empire’s men
God save our men
Keep them victorious
Noble and chivalrous
They are so dear to us
God save our men.
- sung on Ladies Night at the “Lit,” 25 February 1916
Miscellaneous collection, file 67. |
The 28th Battalion |
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Private Cameron, left, and Sergeant MacPherson |
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“This University can never be the same after these months.”
- Edmund Oliver, at the funeral of Frank West, 1915.
| Almost
immediately, The Sheaf began to run
memorials to those students killed while in
service, together with letters from the front.
| |
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First Casualties of the Conflict |
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University of Saskatchewan Platoon #15, "D" Company |
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In February
1916, the Western Universities
Battalion formed, and another wave of
students and faculty joined up. By October
1916, 168 undergraduates, 11 staff and 8
others connected with the University had gone
to war -- between 50-60% of college men. |
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