8 



by the Germans. We had hoped to have an opportunity to give 

 Dr. Beland a warm welcome, and to express our deep sympathy 

 with him for the hardships and injustice that he has suffered from 

 the Germans since our meeting in January, 1914. The Acting Chair- 

 man, Hon. Senator Edwards, endeavoured to have Dr. Beland address 

 you, but an engagement to give an address in the United States, 

 made several months ago, prevented his accepting. 



I regret to have to record that in October last. Miss Norma 

 Johnston, my private secretary, succumbed to influenza. As a result 

 of overAvork in the autumn of 1917, while picking fruit on a farm 

 in Dundas county, Ont., her resistant powers were so reduced that 

 she was unable to combat the disease. Able, full of zeal for her work, 

 and a charming personality, she gave her life as a result of patriotic- 

 ally trying to ' do her bit.' 



MILITARY SERVICE OF STAFF 



Before dealing with the general work of the Commission, I 

 desire to record the military service of the staflf during the war. 



Pte. P. M. Baldwin, Canadian Army Medical Corps — Mr. 

 Baldwin is Assistant Editor. He twice endeavoured to enlist in 

 combatant corps but was rejected on account of defective eyesight. 

 Determined to do his bit, he enlisted as stretcher-bearer in the 

 Canadian Army Medical Corps in 1916. Later, he was transferred 

 to the 1st Canadian Field Ambulance Corps. After considerable 

 service in France, he obtained a transfer to the 1st Battalion, Cana- 

 dian Engineers, and is now in Germany. 



Pte. James Carroll, 199th Battalion, Duchess of Connaught Irish 

 Rangers — Mr. Carroll was a messenger. He was reported missing 

 August 15th, 1917, and has since been reported 'officially dead.' 

 It is believed that he was either blown to pieces or was buried by a 

 shell. 



Bom. Allan Donncll, 46th Queen's Battery — Mr. Donnell is also 

 Assistant Editor. He was badly wounded by a gas shell at the battle 

 of Vimy Ridge. He was invalided to Ottawa, and on Dec. 31st, 

 1917, discharged as unfit for further service in the army. 



Capt. G. H. Ferguson, M.C., Canadian Engineers — Capt. 

 Ferguson is one of our engineers. Commissioned Nov. 1st, 1914, 

 in the Canadian Hydrological Corps, with the rank of captain, he 

 reverted to the rank of lieutenant to go overseas with the Canadian 

 Engineers. He was promoted for duty in France and was decorated 

 with the Military Cross. He was continuously on duty in the for- 

 ward area until the end of June, 1918, when his leg was broken. Due 



