Boer War Discovery Page 90u

The Allan Line: The Allan line of steamers were as famous, in 1900, as those of the Cunard Line. Their trademark red funnel with a white border under a black top graced numerous ships which carried hundreds of thousands of European immigrants to Canada during the Victorian and Edwardian period. The Allan line was bought out by Canadian Pacific in 1909.

Marconi: In 1901 the Sardinian played another major role in Canadian - and world - history. She carried Guglielmo Marconi and his radio equipment to Newfoundland. From atop Signal Hill, at the entrance to St. John's harbour, he would make the first transatlantic radio transmission to Europe.

Radio was here to stay, and was soon aboard ships. Eleven years later, the White Star liner Titanic, approaching the Newfoundland shore, would be the first ship to send out an SOS signal by radio. It would be picked up at Cape Race, some distance south of where Marconi had proved that radio does work. Now they could find the bodies much faster.

Dr. Frederick Borden, Canada's Minister of Militia had, more than any other Canadian, pushed Canada to become involved in the Boer War, and when it happened, he vigourously organized the contingents for war.

But he did not want his only son, Harold, a militiaman and a medical student at McGill University to go. Newspaper taunts finally caused Harold to "join up" against his father's strongest objections. He was not to be dissuaded and signed up as a Lieutenant in the Canadian Mounted Rifles.

His ship, the Milwaukee was at the dock when both father and son attended the farewell reception given by the City of Halifax in Feb. 1900. The rare invitation has survived.

Any invitation card from the event would be rare enough. To find the one personally named to one of the main guests of honour, and who doubtless carried it on the occasion, is a most splendid historic treat.

Obviously the expected crowd was so huge that only those with special invitations could get in to the limited space. Cards had to be specifically named, even for celebrities. This wonderfully rare card was personally tagged for "Hon. Dr. Borden & lady," so even the Minister was not allowed to bring an entourage of Ottawa aides. Haligonians would be given pride of place to honour their gallant sons.

Down on the waterfront the Milwaukee was waiting, draping a banner over the side saying CANADIAN CONTINGENT. The next morning the regiment was loading horses and fodder (left).

The Last Farewell: Somewhere in the throng father and son are bidding each other aideu. Neither could know that they would never see each other again. Harold would meet a heroic death only five months later, while eagerly scouting - with greenhorn enthusiasm - an enemy position with a fellow officer.

His death would shock all of Canada.

Right, a magnificent oil on canvas painting of the SS Milwaukee in mid-Atlantic, executed, in 1902, by the eminent French marine painter Edouard Adam.

The men were aboard for a month on the voyage to Cape Town, South Africa.

On the clock it is 10:09 a:m. As the ship noses in to the dock, with her precious cargo of local, and Canadian "boys," the docks, the streets, and rooftops, balconies, and telephone poles, are crowded with cheering admirers. After all, these were the Heroes of Paardeberg, whose fabled exploits on the battlefield had helped give Britain the first major victory in the war and put Canada on the world map.