FOR KING & COUNTRY

At the outbreak of the First World War Canada was a young nation. As part of the Commonwealth of Great Britain, Canada was automatically drawn into the conflict.


“The King’s Call” was a phrase used to encourage enlistment by appealing to a sense of authority (King George the 5th).


The recruitment goal for 1914 was 75,000 soldiers. As the war dragged on, the demand increased to 500,000. Between 1914 and 1918, over 600,000 Canadian men and women enlisted to serve in the armed forces and medical auxiliary. A number of ‘patriotic’ wartime songs were written and played to support recruitment.

Recruitment advertisements, Orangeville Banner, 1915-1916.


Many young men in Dufferin County had to choose between enlistment and supporting the family farm. Farmers were also needed to feed the army.

THINK ABOUT IT...

  • What is propaganda? Aside from music, what other forms of propaganda were used during the war?

  • What groups or individuals might not have felt loyalty to Great Britain or the war effort? Were there people who served in the war despite discrimination and oppression? Who were these groups or individuals?


  • What difficulties or challenges did the military experience in trying to recruit soldiers as the war progressed? How was music used to encourage enlistment?


  • What is conscription and why was it being considered in Canada? What were the issues surrounding conscription and the Military Service Act?

Select a song to explore...

The King Will Be Proud of Canada
(1916)

MoD Collection, MUS-0012

God Save the King
(1914)

MoD Collection, MUS-0105

There's A Fight Going On, Are You In It?
(1915)

MoD Collection, MUS-0430