Canadian Militia Born Outside Canada 1907

The database in our Name Index is an alphabetical index to a list of 1,991 Canadian militia personnel in the permanent or volunteer force in 1907 who were not born in Canada. Most were of British origin.

The index contains surname and forenames or initials, rank, age, country of origin, military division, page on which the name is found, and a link to the image of the original table.

Additional information in the original publication is the nature of appointment or employment, date of appointment, rank before appointment or employment, rank after appointment or employment, yearly remuneration for service, and remarks.  

Information on Foreign-Born Canadian Militia 1907

 Overview

The 1,991 men in this database constitute 3.7 per cent of the authorized establishment of the Canadian Militia: 4,188 officers and 46,891 non-commissioned officers and men. As of March 31, 1907, the Permanent Force establishment was 2,737.

Nearly three-quarters of the men—1,467—were born in England, 266 were Irish, and 149 were Scottish. The next most numerous birthplaces were Wales, India, the United States, Australia, the Channel Islands, France, and Newfoundland.

More than half (1,012) of the 1,991 indexed men were stationed in the Halifax military district. The Montreal district accounted for 286 men and Toronto, 246. Their median age was 26, the youngest being 15, the oldest 78. The most numerous ranks were 742 privates, 460 gunners, 106 sappers, 57 lance corporals, 93 corporals, and 237 sergeants of various designations.

Income earned

With the exception of 14 described as Boy, who were paid $156, the lowest annual income was $182.50 for newly recruited privates. This was the pay for two weeks of training during the summer and their availability to be called out in time of need. At the other end of the scale, earning $6,000 annually, were two brigadier-generals in the Permanent Force at the headquarters in Ottawa. Across the country 44 foreign-born officers earned more than $1,000.

Source

The original source document for the database is Sessional papers of the Dominion of Canada 1907-1908, Paper No. 94, pp. 974–1024. It records that the Senate asked for the information on February 12, 1907, and that the response came on January 22, 1908. 

The information in the Sessional Paper is presented in sections by military division.
Headquarters: Ottawa, Ontario
No.1:  London, Ontario
No 2: Toronto, Ontario
Nos. 3 and 4: Kingston, Ontario
Nos. 5, 6 and 7: Montreal, Quebec
Nos. 8, 9 and 12: Halifax, Nova Scotia
R.C.R.: Halifax, Nova Scotia
No. 10: Winnipeg, Manitoba, R.C.M.R.
No. 11: Victoria, British Columbia.

The Sessional Paper, compiled from reports from the various military districts, made no attempt to reconcile the different descriptions and abbreviations of rank.

Abbreviations used

R.C.R.—Royal Canadian Regiment.

R.C.M.R.—Royal Canadian Mounted Rifles.

Indexing was completed by Bryan D. Cook and John D. Reid. The resource was identified by Glenn Wright as of interest to BIFHSGO.