Timeline: September 1915

Much of Council’s wartime activity in September 1915 revolved around the purchase of the field kitchen for the 52^nd Battalion. The payment was authorized by Port Arthur in August 1915, and now in September 1915 was authorized by Fort William.

September 13: Port Arthur:

A letter is received from Lieutenant Colonel Hay, regards to the Field Kitchen. This is presumably an acknowledgement of Port Arthur’s authorization of the payment in August.

September 13: Port Arthur:

The same Lieutenant Colonel Hay has submitted an account to be paid to Port Arthur. The minutes here do not specify what this payment of $126 is for, but it is separate from the Field Kitchen.

September 14: Fort William:

Here, Lieutenant Colonel Hay responds to Fort William’s offer of the field kitchen: “They would be delighted to receive an army field kitchen and suggesting that one of the four wheel type be purchased.” The message from Port Arthur approving the equal split of the cost is received. Fort William Council approves the joining of the two Cities to purchase the army field kitchen at the cost of $600 each.

September 14: Fort William:

Here, Fort William Council formally supports sending the 52^nd Battalion to the front. This motion would have had no influence on military actions. The text reads:

Moved by Aldermen McClure and Hardy: That the Council of the City of Fort William are in Sympathy with the desire of the people of the District of Thunder Bay and Rainy River in the matter of sending the 52^nd Battalion to the front as a unit to represent the District in the Empire’s struggle against German Tyranny, and that we respectfully petition the Militia Department to that end. Carried.

September 27: Port Arthur:

Port Arthur council notes a letter from Fort William’s City Clerk, Alexander McNaughton, confirming the shared purchase of the field kitchen.

September 28: Fort William:

This letter received by Fort William City Council would be very significant in the lives of non-citizens living in the Thunder Bay area. The Registrar of Aliens, a Federal government agency, writes “stating that the Government had announced that the clerical work in connection with the distribution of relief to the Alien Enemies in this City must be undertaken by the City at its own expense.”

Remember that by this time that both Cities had undertaken to spend a significant portion of municipal funds in support of the war effort, normally a federal government responsibility. Here we see downloading of another federal responsibility to local government. This decision would be contested by Fort William, as we will see in upcoming months.