The Great War Began, 1914
In the early twentieth century, diplomatic relations between European states had been tense, two rival alliances coalesced and an arms race ensued. Then the assassination of the heir to the Austrian throne led to a war with Serbia, a continental diplomatic crisis and then a war between the largest European powers. As is often the case during momentous historical episodes, the public perception at the time of what was happening might seem strange in retrospect. It seems that nobody realized how profoundly these distant events would change everyday life.
On August 7, 1914, three days after Great Britain declared war on Germany, in response to the invasion of Belgium, France and Luxemburg, the front page of the Fenelon Falls Gazette was filled with practical farming advice—how to care for poultry, horses and cattle. The newspaper reported, "a despatch from Ottawa says officials of the Department of Finance are inclined to the view that the Austro-Servian war will have no serious effect on economic conditions in Canada." It also reprinted a column from the Toronto Globe, penned by H.G. Wells that would be quoted decades later, as a reflection of the sentiments of the time:
"At last the intolerable tension is over and Europe is at war. The monstrous vanity that was begotten by the easy victories of 1870-71 has challenged the world. Germany prepares to reap the harvest Count Bismarck sowed—that trampling, drilling foolery in the heart of Europe that arrested civilization and darkened the hopes of mankind for forty years.
German Imperialism, German militarism struck its inevitable blow. A victory for Germany will mean the permanent enthronement of the war god over all human affairs; the defeat of Germany may open the way to disarmament and peace throughout the earth. To those who love peace there can be no other hope in the present conflict than the defeat and utter discrediting of the German legions, ending for good and all the blood-and-iron superstition of the Krupp flag-wagging, Teutonic Kiplingism, and all that criminal and sham efficiency that centres in Berlin.
Never was war so righteous as that war against Germany now; never any State in the world so clamoured for punishment. But be it remembered Europe’s quarrel is with Germany as a State, not the German people; with the system, not the race. Older tradition in Germany is pacific, and the civilizing tradition and temperament of the mass of the German people is kindly sane and amiable. A disaster to the German army, if it is not accompanied by such a memorable wrong as dismemberment or intolerable indignity, will mean restoration for the greatest people in Europe to fellowship among the western nations. The role of England in this huge struggle is as plain as daylight; we have to fight if only on account of the Luxembourg outrage; we have to fight, for if we do not fight England will cease to be a country to be proud of. It will be a dirt bath to escape from. But it is not inconceivable that we should not fight, and having fought, then in the hour of victory it will be for us to save the liberated Germans from vindictive treatment, to secure for this great people their right to ‘a place in the sun’ as one united German-speaking State. First, we have to save ourselves and Europe, and then we have to stand between the German on the one hand and the Cossack revenge on the other."
Many young men and women did answer the call to serve their country. As Wells had written, many did sincerely believe it was their duty to stand against German militarism, and absolutely believed in the righteousness of their cause. Many expected a quick victory. Instead, the Great War would turn into a bloody stalemate, that would profoundly change the world, even as far away as Fenelon Falls. Many young men were killed, many others were never quite the same, either because of physical injuries or the trauma of what they had seen. Horses suffered just as badly. At the same time, the necessities of war led to many technological advancements that would eventually be adopted into everyday life: tractors, airplanes, motorized ambulances and blood transfusions to name a few.
Some anglophile local residents joined British, rather than colonial units, which could lead to faster deployment, into battles with tremendous rates of casualties. Some of the families who were most enthusiastic about doing their duty lost multiple sons. Most local residents were recruited into the 109th, then later the 252nd Battalion. These units were never deployed intact, but were broken up to provide reinforcements for other units. Local soldiers took part in many of the most memorable battles on the western front. Fenelon Falls’ list of honour includes 235 servicemen who survived the war and 36 who died. Each village and neighbourhood had their own list. Even for those who did return, life would never be quite the same again.
