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Vancouverites, in fact most British Columbians, are quite patriotic. Or at least we used to be. During the Boer War, we were ready to send men to war but the federal government rejected the province's offer, taking only 17 men. Naturally, the people of B.C. were indignant. 

On December 31, 1900 seven of the detachment returned. They were met at the CPR station by one of the largest crowds in Vancouver history. These men had taken part in 37 battles and skirmishes as well as the capture of 3 defended cities.

And their home city pulled out all the stops to welcome them home. The 6th Regiment Duke of Connaught's Own Rifles were on parade for the returning soldiers. Colonel C.A. Worsnop and Mayor Garden made speeches and a procession accompanied them to the Royal Theatre. There, the men were welcomed home by the Lieutenant Governor, T. R. McInnes.

Arches were erected on Cordova Street and searchlights played from the top of the B.C. Electric Building, ending at the Opera House. There, the returning heroes were presented with a gold watch and a new suit of clothes.

The News-Advertiser wrote the next morning:

"They were surrounded on the stage by the fair faces of the youth and beauty of the city, which set off to admiration the bronzed, bold and manly faces of the heroes who had suffered and conquered on the burning veldt for Queen, Home and Empire!"

Looking back today, after everything the world has gone through, this may seem tinselly and overly theatrical. However, at the time, it was the biggest was the Empire had had since Waterloo. For all the horrors of war, the Boer War didn't cast a shadow over the wild rejoicing on the last night of the nineteenth century.

Fortunately, there weren't many deaths of the original seventeen sent overseas. One captain and two privates were killed. Four were seriously wounded and sent home as invalids and the last three returned home later.

Thanks to the book Vancouver, From Milltown to Metropolis by Alan Morley for the above information.

I hope you find the beauty around you.

Karen Magill

A Duke, A Duchess and a War

This group of photographs is from the Vancouver Public Library online collection

A 1901 photo taken by Philip Timms. This may have been the Empress of India, carrying the Duke and Duchess of  Cornwall and York (later King George V and Queen Mary) 

A 1901 photo, photographer unknown, of the arrival of the Duke and Duchess of Cornwall and York. CPR Station, Vancouver

Leonard Frank took this photo in 1901 at the Hastings Saw Mill. The arch is made of giant logs and the people are gathered to greet the royal visitors.

Philip Timms took this photo of the CPR depot at night during the royal visit.

As  you may have figured out by the opening photographs, one of the things I am telling you about today is the 1901 visit to Vancouver of the Duke and Duchess of Cornwall and York - later King George V and Queen Mary.

Today's photos are to show you the lavish reception and enthusiasm Vancouver can have for its royal visitors. You may remember when I told you about an 1876 visit to Burrard Inlet and the hamlet of Gastown by Lord and Lady Dufferin where they were greeted with a 21-gun salute.

However, Vancouver does have a more practical side to its patriotism.

The following four photographs are from The City of Vancouver online archives.

E.B. Herman caught this shot of the royal party approaching the Japanese arch.

Sept. 30, 1901 - the Duke and Duchess open the Beatty Street Drill Hall

The Duke and Duchess at the corner of Cordova and Cambie.

The Duke and Duchess of Cornwall and York.

The year was 1893 and Captain T.O. Townley - a Vancouver lawyer and future mayor - was authorized to develop No.5 Company of the British Columbia Brigade of Garrison Artillery in Vancouver. There were already other units of the brigade in Victoria and New Westminster.

Before the uniforms and equipment had arrived, Townley was promoted to Major. He certified 80 men January 16 and 17, 1894 and their first parade was held on January 18 in the Imperial Opera House on Pender Street. When Lord Stanley, the governor-general visited in November of that year, he was given a creditable guard of honour. 

Recruiting for the brigade was rapid and in 1896, No. 5 Company became the two-company 2nd Battalion, 5th Regiment, Canadian Artillery, reorganized as the 6th Battalion of Rifles in July, 1899.

Philip Timms took this photo on September 30, 1901 of the Duke and Duchess's procession.

The Chinese welcome arch for TRH. Philip Timms, photographer.

Same photographer. TRH on West Hastings on Seymour.

A shot from the courthouse grounds, decorated for the royal visit. Philip Timms, photographer. These last four photos are from the Vancouver Library.

The Boer War began and the city's patriotism was whipped into a frenzy. They were severely disappointed though when only 17 Vancouver men were selected for service with the Royal Canadian Regiment in South Africa. (Seven more came from New Westminster) During a wild parade through town, a milk cart with a boar's head mounted on a pole appeared.

Eight months after the men left, the Duke of Connaught became an honorary colonel of the Vancouver unit. The unit took the title of 6th Rgt. Duke of Connaught's Own Rifles.

September 20, 1901, Philip Timms, photographer. The courthouse grounds decorated for the visit.

Stuart Thomson took this photo of a drawing of the Duke and Duchess of Cornwall and York in 1901.

Dominion Photo Co. is credited for this 1901 photo of the TRH arriving in Vancouver. The previous three photos are from the Vancouver Public Library.

The Duke and Duchess at a reception at the Hastings Saw Mill. Photograph from the City of Vancouver archives.

I want to thank Alan Morley and his book, Vancouver from Milltown to Metropolis for the above information.

I hope you find the beauty around you.

The CPR station at the foot of Granville Street, decorated for the royal visit.

Northwest Mounted Police escorting TRH on Hastings Street.

The Duke and Duchess pass through the Japanese Arch.

Firemen's arch on Cordova Street for the royal visit.

Sore Losers

Ever since its beginnings, British Columbia had been tormented by the bitter feud going on between the official clique and its supporters - more British than the British - and the growing Canadian element. For two decades, the battlegrounds were New Westminster and Victoria. After all, Burrard Inlet was too insignificant to be bothered with. And in its first election, Vancouver made its choice - the city is Canadian.

When R.H. Alexander taunted the newcomers as being "North American Chinese" then tried to oppose them at the polls with the real Chinese, it was the last showdown between the old vendetta and new wave. As we know, the old guard was defeated.

The old timers didn't accept the defeat gracefully. They started a petition to have the election voided and unseat newly elected mayor, MacLean. There were threats of violence, which didn't amount to anything.

The new city council held its first meeting on May 10, 1886. In addition to the mayor, there were 10 aldemen: Joseph Griffiths, Robert Balfour, Thomas Dunn, Charles A. Coldwell, E.P. Hamilton, Joesph Northcott, L.A. Hamilton, Peter Cordiner, Harry Hemlow and Joseph Humphries. The meeting was held at 2:30 pm in Jonathan Miller's house.

The city archivist recreated the scene:

"Mrs. Miller cleared the dining-room table. Some laid their hats upon it, others got more chairs out of the three or four jail cells (the jail was behind the house), an oil lamp swung above, the tiny room was crowded, the audience, such as could, peered through the open door.

"The poll clerk, the late Gardner Johnson, swore in the mayor-elect, and then the mayor swore in the ten alderman. A bystander... went round the corner and came back with a pad of paper, a pen and a bottle of ink and wrote "City of Vancouver" across the top of the first sheet."

The main business of the meeting was appointment of officials. J. Huntley was appointed city clerk pro-term at $75 a month; John Boultbee was appointed the police magistrate with no salary; J.P. Lawson assessment clerk and city engineer at $75 a month.

"As for city treasurer," said MacLean "I do not see any particular hurry for this appointment, having no cash to deposit in his hands."

The first communication dealt with was an offer from Silsby Manufacturing Co. of a second-hand fire engine on reasonable terms.

Thanks to Alan Morley and his book Vancouver From Milltown to Metropolis for the above information.

I hope you find the beauty around you.