THE 1938 CANADIAN CORPS REUNION

The morning of Saturday, July 30 1938 dawned hot and sunny in the city of Toronto. It was the start of the Civic Holiday long weekend and it looked like it would be a swell one. The day was an extra-special one in the Moorecroft household. Fred Moorecroft donned his pin, red beret and armband and was ready to go. He was one of over 100,000 veterans of the Great War who gathered to celebrate and reminisce at the Canadian Corps Reunion.

 Fred had had a terrible war experience. Embracing his Ulster Scot background, he enlisted in the 48th Highlanders in August of 1915. He sailed for Europe in early 1916 with the 92nd battalion and was attached to the 15th battalion in France. Fred returned home early in 1918 a broken man having lost a leg and several fingers in an attack

92nd battalion scouts, Fred is 4th from the left

In the 20 years following Fred managed to build a life for himself, marrying Adeline Nicholls in 1921 and finding employment as a clerk and bookkeeper. He and Addie lived with their son Fred Jr. at 56 Donlands Avenue in the east end of Toronto. Life seemed to be good, which may be why Fred decided to attend the 1938 reunion.

The first Canadian Corps Reunion was held in Toronto from August 4 to 6 1934 to commemorate the start of the Great War. The reunion, tied in with the 100th anniversary of the City of Toronto, was a huge success. About 100,000 veterans attended and spent $750,000 during the event. A bigger party was planned for ’38. The end of the war was perhaps a more fitting cause for celebration. However, there was another reason—storm clouds were brewing and democracy and freedom were being threatened. There was a good chance that Canadians would be called upon again and what better way to inspire patriotic feelings than to be reminded of the sacrifices made by the older generation 20 years earlier? 

The reunion was announced on Remembrance Day 1937 at the Corps’ annual dinner and as 1938 began invitations were sent out. A full program was planned with events taking place at Exhibition place, Riverdale Park and other locations.

 

The first vet to register in April 1938 was Toronto Mayor Ralph C. Day formerly of the 116th battalion. He was followed by many other politicians, as well as Victoria Cross recipient Air Marshall William “Billy” Bishop. Acceptances came from New Zealand, Australia, South Africa and West Africa. Special trains were booked to bring groups from Montreal, Buffalo and Chicago. Groups arranged to travel from Detroit, California and Newfoundland. 

A special group called themselves the “League of Forgotten Men”, men who had been reported dead or missing and believed dead.  

Times were still tough so assistance was offered to unemployed vets. Brantford council allowed unemployed vets to perform 3 days of special relief work to earn $13 towards their trip. A special train was booked to bring several hundred attendees from Hamilton, for no charge. Emergency billeting was provided in the Livestock building.

First up was a popular event brought back from the 1934 reunion—the French Village located in the CNE Coliseum. It opened to the public on July 25, with 5,000 visitors pouring in. From the evening of Friday, July 29 it was reserved for veterans. Visitors could stroll through streets past homes, barns, shops and estaminets (small cafés offering food and drink). Beer and wine flowed and visitors enjoyed sing-a-longs to favourites like “Mademoiselle from Armentières” and “Pack Up Your Troubles”. Dancing and revelry went on well into the night. It was a great success. The first night one beer ticket wicket ran out of tickets; another ran out of change. According to the Globe and Mail, “It was a grand party. Today motorists on their way to work in the city saw many of last night’s celebrants blissfully sleeping on the grass near the lakefront”.

 

Saturday, July 30 featured the Canadian Corps March Past following Prime Minister Mackenzie King’s opening addresses to the veterans—“Liberty and democracy cry out anew for preservation, not only in foreign countries, but in many parts of Canada”. The parade was led by the brass and pipe band of the 48th Highlanders. 

Each unit was represented by a group of four veterans with a colour bearer carrying the unit flag. Thousands lined the streets despite the heat. Some vets and spectators collapsed and were treated by St John Ambulance. The Globe’s 1 Aug headline: “Veterans March Past Takes Two Full Hours Beneath Broiling Sun” In all 70,000 vets, and 40 bands marched.  

Saturday night unit dinners were held. The Canadian Corps reunion dinner took place at the Royal York with 22 Victoria Cross recipients the guests of honour. A representative from every unit attended and the dinner address was broadcast by remote radio hookup to the other dinners held at the Royal York, King Edward Hotel, Victoria Hotel, CNE Grandstand, the horticultural building at CNE and many other locations.

The main event on Sunday, July 31st was the Drumhead Service at Riverdale Park which followed services at Prospect Cemetery and Varsity Stadium. Colonel McLaughlin of GM fame funded an actual size reproduction of the Vimy monument based on the original plans of designer Walter Alward. As most vets had not been able to travel to France to see the original, it was felt that the emotional pull of the reproduction would be great.

One of the big events on Monday, August 1st was the unveiling of unit plaques at Coronation Park. The park had been opened in 1937 to commemorate the coronation of King George VI and Queen Elizabeth. Trees were planted to represent the countries of the empire and each CEF unit. Granite plaques were now installed noting the name of the tree and the unit. Representatives from each unit simultaneously pulled ribbons to remove little Union Jacks that covered each plaque. Fundraising coast to coast covered the installation and any extra money was to go towards installing a bench or statue holding a continuously burning flame but that doesn’t appear to have ever happened. Some of the trees have been replaced over the years but it appears that the 15th battalion’s tree is the original. Most people jogging and biking through this lovely park probably know nothing of its past.

By the morning of Tuesday, August 2nd the reunion was officially over. Streets were cleared of paper, broken bottles and bonfire ashes. According to Globe, “All the traffic signs which happy veterans had placed in queer places had been returned to their proper posts when the cleaners had finished their job, and waste paper cans once more reposed on street corners”. The reunion had been a huge success. Reportedly over $1.5 million was spent on food and lodging over the weekend. Several downtown hotels had to close before 11 pm Saturday when they ran out of booze. There were some downsides to the event— hospitals were overwhelmed and police were run ragged. Over 160 injuries, 39 auto collisions and 3 hold ups were reported.

 

It’s difficult to know how many events Fred attended. On July 30th the Globe reported that upon request the Christie Street Hospital was willing to provide transport to all former patients who couldn’t otherwise get to the festivities. Fred may have accepted this offer or perhaps Addie drove him. Fred had been fitted with a prosthetic leg but he appeared to prefer his crutches. Either way it may have been difficult for him to attend some events during the weekend and he certainly would have found it difficult to march with his colleagues. Perhaps he at least attended the reunion dinner on Saturday night, though I haven’t been able to determine where the 15th held their dinner. Either way he kept his reunion gear so it seemed that the reunion meant something to him. 

Before the reunion it was reported that Alderman GS Layton from Montreal would be attending the reunion and was to bring a bid for the next reunion in 1942. Unfortunately circumstances had changed and the next reunion was not to be.

August 17th 1922

Toronto Daily Star 
Thursday August 17
1922
Toronto Public Library

The morning of August 17 1922 dawned warm and sunny in the Brooks household on 100 Sparkhall Avenue. It was going to be another hot one, which was to be expected in August in Toronto. The Toronto Star’s 5 o’clock edition noted a temperature of 78 degrees, cooler than the 93 degree high the day before when a “coat today felt like a woollen blanket” and it felt “as if Toronto were shifting towards the Sahara desert”. The thunderstorm on the 16th had cooled the city down to more pleasant temperatures.

This picture of my grandparents was taken in the early 1920s. Before they were married my grandfather William Thomas "Bill" Brooks had resided in a boarding house at 88 Main Street, and later 44 River Street. Both these residences no longer exist.

Might's City of Toronto Directory 1922, archive.org

Both provided easy access to the streetcar line taking him to his place of employment George Street downtown. My grandmother Gertrude Maud "Gertie" Kingswell boarded at 29 Saulter Street (now a park) and took the Queen car down to her job as a stenographer at Eaton's. Her younger sister Chrissie worked alongside her older sister at Eaton's as a packer.

Might's Greater Toronto City Directory, 1920, archive.org

Might's City of Toronto Directory 1922, archive.org

Downtown Toronto 1920s. City of Toronto Archives

Gertie had moved back to her parents' home on 471 Queen Street East shortly before her marriage. The couple were married on June 7th 1921 in her parents’ living room by Reverend George I.B. Johnson of St. Saviour’s Anglican church. Home marriages were still popular in the 1920s but probably chosen in this case due to the difference in religions - Gertie’s family were strict Anglicans and Bill's were staunch Presbyterians. Bill’s family remained in Scarborough but Gertie likely wished to be close to her family on Queen Street (currently an empty lot). The house on Sparkhall Avenue seemed to be a perfect choice.

This is a picture of the house today. It's a lovely tree lined street busy with moms with their babies and dog lovers heading to the park with their pups

I was surprised at how quickly the couple purchased a home, especially as the cost would have been managed on one salary. Mortgages would have been secured from the bank at a rate in the 6% range, and according to the FSCO (Financial Services Commission of Ontario) website only monthly interest was paid on the loan while the borrower saved towards repayment of the original sum in full. This practice would lead many borrowers to financial ruin in the 1930s, including the Brooks. However, the 1921 census showed that 46% of residents of Toronto owned their home so many took advantage of the opportunity. 

The 1920s were indeed roaring in Toronto. The home was new when Bill and Gertie purchase it and according to the 1922 Toronto Assessment Roll was assessed at $1,000 and the land at $560. 

City of Toronto Assessment Roll, Ward No. 1, Div. No 3, page 119, May 20 1922

Toronto Globe, July 9 1921

   

In 1922 Bill worked as a Purchasing Agent and Timekeeper for John Hillock and Company, Refrigeration Manufacturers, after starting in the shipping department. A timekeeper kept track of hours worked by employees for payroll purposes. Hopefully the Brooks received an employee discount that helped them purchase this fine Arctic Refrigerator, one of Hillock's finest products! Bill likely earned a respectable $1,500/yr according to the 1921 census.

Located in the Riverdale area of Toronto, Sparkhall Avenue runs between Broadview and Logan Avenues. There were lots of activities available in the area for a young couple in the early 1920s. Riverdale Park was the perfect location for strolls, picnics and baseball games.

Riverdale Park 1922, City of Toronto Archives

The Riverdale Zoo had an astonishing number of exotic animals for all to marvel at.

Toronto Zoo, 1926, City of Toronto Archives

At the other end of Sparkhall there was Withrow Park with an outdoor skating rink. There were shops and services within an easy walking distance. The amazing Sunnyside Pavilion had opened earlier that year and would be a fun place to bathe and dance the night away. The Star on August 15th noted that “ Sunnyside in the west and the beaches in the east proved the most attractive spots to citizens. The former was simply crowded last night. As one humorist put it, there are so many automobiles flashing by at Sunnyside that there is bound to be a breeze”. 

Sunnyside 1922, Toronto Public Library digital archives

Center Island was an easy ferry ride away. And later in August the CNE would open with fun in the midway and tasty treats in the Pure Foods Building. Bill would likely have visited on Warriors Day to march with fellow World War One veterans and enjoy free admission to the park.

Warriors' Day 1922, City of Toronto Archives

It had been a hot few weeks and summer activities would have beckoned to Toronto residents. But on August 17 1922 Bill and Gertie had other matters to think about. Gertie would have resigned her position at Eaton’s at the time of her marriage as was the custom in the day. It would have been expected that she remain at home to manage the household. The Eaton’s catalogue of the time would have provided all the best supplies for a 1920s home and it was an easy car ride down to the store on Queen Street to shop. 

Eaton's Fall and Winter Catalogue 1920-21, archive.org

All that was needed to complete the home was a family. Gertie came from a family of 8 children that survived infancy, a large family for the time. According to the 1921 census the average family size was 2.35. Bill had only two brothers. This was a small family given that the family farmed and would have needed the help. Bill had no interest in the family farm and moved into the city as soon as he could, as did his brother George, leaving the middle brother John to take over the Agincourt farm.

The families were close and the young couple likely entertained at home. Gertie was a talented musician and loved to play the Heintzman piano that would have had a place of honour in the home’s living room. She also loved to read. But there would be no time for any of these entertainments today. For today Gertie would give birth to her first child. 

The birth certificate doesn’t give the time of the birth and for some reason I never thought to ask my dad when he was born. Given the heat of the day I hope it was early! Hospital births were becoming more common in 1922. There was a hospital in the area but the Riverdale Hospital was restricted to patients suffering from communicable diseases, such as tuberculosis, and was known as the Isolation Hospital. Toronto East General was not built until 1929. So Gertie gave birth at home, attended by Dr. Roy Belfry whose office was located around the corner on Broadview in a fine home that still stands today. Her mom Fanny likely was also there to help her daughter through her first labour and perhaps one or more of her sisters.

I found this birth announcement in my grandmother’s papers. It was probably clipped from the Toronto Telegram which was my grandparents’ newspaper of choice given its Conservative slant. Unfortunately the Telegram hasn’t been digitized so I wasn’t able to produce a better copy but I did what I could to minimize the stains. Unfortunately neither the Star nor the Globe had a notification.

He was cute as a button and his parents were obviously pleased to have their first son. Gordon Russell Brooks was the first grandchild for John Andrew Brooks and Martha Walker. He was the fifth grandchild for Charles Kingswell and Frances Mary Wilkes. In the future there would be many Kingswell and Brooks cousins to visit and play with. Russ was joined in 1925 by his beloved brother Mel. My dad died on 29 September 1992 just past his 70th birthday. I miss him every day. Happy 100th birthday Daddy!