Nova Scotia/Nunavut Command of The Royal Canadian Legion www.ns.legion.ca 69 The enlistment of men from Canada’s First Nations was approved by the Canadian Government. Although not considered Canadian citizens at the beginning of WW1, more than 4000 individuals would volunteer for active service from across the country. In 1914, racial prejudice existed amongst the Caucasian population and the military hierarchy worked exclusively in English, a language that many aboriginal recruits did not speak. Records and memoires suggest that most units eventually embraced First Nations soldiers, providing a more welcome environment than in other segments of contemporary society. First Nations troops left a remarkable record of wartime accomplishments. Several were commissioned officers and many served as battle-hardened platoon leaders and combat instructors. Over 50 were decorated for bravery on the battlefield. Many others acquired near-legendary status as scouts and snipers, drawing on pre-war hunting skills and wilderness experience. In Atlantic Canada, close to half of the eligible Mi’kmaq and Maliseet men from Nova Scotia and New Brunswick would serve overseas. Here are the stories of two of these men. Sam Gloade, Royal Canadian Engineers “I’ll never forget the first night. I stayed out most of the night, watching the flares go up over No Man’s Land, like fireworks, and hearing the cannons and bursts of rifle and machine gun fire.” Sam Gloade, Royal Canadian Engineers – November 1915 Sam Gloade was from Cape Breton and he enlisted in the army at age 35. Originally joining the infantry, he was transferred into the Royal Canadian Engineers. He would spend his time in the service with a tunneling company of the 6th Field Company, RCE. His unit would serve in Belgium and at Vimy Ridge in France. Sgt. Gloade was awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal (DCM). The citation reads “He showed great devotion to duty and an utter disregard for personal danger.” At the end of the war, Sam would return to Nova Scotia. A lifelong resident of Cape Breton Island, he would resume his profession as hunting guide and live a long life. Sam Gloade passed away in 1957 at Camp Hill Military hospital in Halifax, Nova Scotia. Private Stephen Toney, 85th Battalion, C.E.F. Born in Cape Breton and raised in Pictou County, Stephen Toney was one of the original recruits of the 85th Battalion, enlisting in 1916. Toney would become one of the leading snipers in the Canadian Army. He was awarded the prestigious Military Medal (MM) for his successful duel with an enemy sniper who had inflicted heavy casualties on his battalion in 1917. Private Toney would suffer from a gas wound which would see an end to his ability to serve as a front-line sniper. He would survive the war and return to Pictou County where he would marry and raise a large family. Like Sam Gloade, Stephen Toney would work as a professional hunting guide and woodsman through the rest of his life. He passed away in Pictou County in 1975. First Nations Soldiers Sgt. Sam Gloade DCM Private Toney
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