Canadian Initiatives in the First World War
The Canadian Annual Review of Public Affairs, 1918; by J. Castell Hopkins, FSS, FRGS, pub. Toronto, 1919.
As a Corps the Canadians were very seldom defeated or held up—at Passchendaele they had to make three attempts and success came in the third attack but this was a rare exception. As to initiative, F. D. L. Smith of the Toronto News, recorded (Sept. 10th, 1918) a series of incidents showing Canadian adaptability in various important matters:
(1) They were the first to construct light railways behind the firing line, to use this means of transportation in conveying troops, munitions and supplies to the trenches, as well as in carrying wounded to the rear.
(2) They were the first to lay down plank roads in order to carry heavy trucks and guns through the quagmires of Flanders and France.
(3) They were the first to substitute temporary, lightly constructed waggon roads in place of the permanent highways in favour with the other Allies.
(4) They were the first to originate trench raids for the purpose of breaking the enemy's morale, and obtaining necessary information regarding his forces.
(5) They were the first to organize machine-gun batteries and to use machine-guns in indirect fire that is to say against invisible objects.
(6) They were the first to combat the disease known as trench-feet with any considerable success and they invented the alkali bath to neutralize the poisonous effects of mustard gas.
(7) They were the first of all the Allied armies to establish a Dental Corps, and as a result of this the dental health of the Canadian Army was of the highest character.
(8) They were the first to introduce a de-lousing plant to rid soldiers' clothing of insects.
(9) The Canadian Army Intelligence Department proved a model for others, and Canadian intelligence officers were called to reorganize departments of some of the armies on the Western and Italian fronts.
(10) Canadians introduced a watch repair department, so that the tens of thousands of wrist watches worn by officers and men did not have to go to England for repair.