Chapter XXVIII: Canadian Army Pay Corps

Before the outbreak of the War in 1914 the Canadian Army Pay Corps had only sufficient Staff to deal with the small permanent force, of which it was an integral part. When the Canadian Expeditionary Force was organized, and troops mobilized for home defence, the C.A.P.C. was called upon to undergo the same strain and expansion demanded of every branch of the service. Outside of the army little is known of the responsibilities suddenly thrust upon this department. It had to deal with all finances, pay, separation allowance, assigned pay, civilian employees, tradesmen’s accounts, etc., and, as will be seen by the statement at the end of this article, No. 6 Detachment stationed at Halifax alone disbursed $53,357,388.08 between August, 1914, and July, 1920.

In August, 1914, No. 6 Detachment, whose territory at that time included New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island, as well as Nova Scotia, consisted of the following officers and non-commissioned officers: Lieut.-Col. S. J. R. Sircom (now retired with rank of Brigadier-General), Capt. J. L. Regan, Sergt.-Major J. Turner, Quartermaster Sergt. G. H. Saunders, Staff Sergt. G. T. Allum, Staff Sergt. C. A. Chew, Staff Sergt. B. A. Spink, Sergt. E. R. Kelly, Sergt. A. V. Chase, Sergt. W. A. Coyne, Sergt. F. A. Chew.

This Staff was increased until at one time 14 officers and 120 non-commissioned officers and men were employed. Some of these served in No. 6 Detachment throughout the whole period of the War. Others were transferred to various Units, went Overseas, or took their discharge.

Every soldier, from a Tommy to a full-fledged General, will admit that as far as organization and administration were concerned the Canadian Army Pay Corps was beyond criticism. As soon as a man enlisted he received his pay regularly, no matter where he was—in Canada or in England, in the Field, in hospital or on furlough; and when he returned to Canada for demobilization the cheque for balance of pay due was handed to him on the day he was discharged. In addition to this monies were forwarded to his dependants on account of Separation Allowance, and assigned pay, settlement made for clothing and equipment, which he purchased from stores on repayment, for Victory Bonds which he purchased during his services, remittances to his friends and other payments.

All this entailed an enormous amount of work. Ledger sheets had to be kept up to date, pay books checked up, remittances looked after, cheques written, documents made up and sent along with the soldier from one place to another until he finally returned to Canada, bearing with him like documents from England. Every officer, non-commissioned officer and man knows the amount of detail work which this involved.

BRIG.-GEN. S. J. R. SIRCOM.]

Of the original Staff, Col. S. J. R. Sircom, affectionately known to the troops in this district as the “Grand Old Man,” endeared himself to all ranks with whom he came in contact by his urbanity and kindly consideration. Colonel Sircom commenced his military career early in life. He joined the Halifax Garrison Artillery as a 2nd Lieutenant in 1878, and the 63rd Regiment, Halifax Rifles, in 1885. He transferred to the Militia Staff with the rank of Major in 1905, and on January 1, 1907, was appointed to the C.A.P.C. with the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel, and became Paymaster of the 6th Divisional area. He was promoted to the rank of Colonel on May 24, 1916. He proceeded to London as a representative of the Paymaster-General the latter part of 1918, and on his return from Overseas was retired to Pension with the rank of Brigadier-General.

COL. J. L. REGAN, C.M.G.]

Capt. J. L. Regan proceeded Overseas with the First Contingent as assistant to Col. W. R. Ward, then Chief Paymaster Canadian Expeditionary Force. Captain Regan was largely responsible for the organization of the Canadian Pay Services in France and England. He was later promoted to the rank of Colonel and appointed Deputy Paymaster-General. He was awarded the C.M.G., and on his return to Canada became Director of Pay Services at Ottawa.

Quartermaster Sergt. J. Turner transferred to the Highland Brigade as Captain and Quartermaster. He was seriously injured in the Halifax explosion and is now invalided to Pension. Staff Sergeant G. T. Allum, now Sergeant-Major, is retired to Pension. Quartermaster Sergeant G. H. Saunders was promoted to the rank of Captain. Captain Saunders remained with No. 6 Detachment during the whole period of the War, and the admirable manner in which this Unit met all demands upon it, particularly during the trying months of demobilization, was largely due to his energy, efficiency and foresight.

Staff Sergts. C. A. Chew and B. A. Spink proceeded Overseas and both returned with the rank of Captain. The former was discharged to Pension; the latter is employed at Militia Headquarters. Staff Sergt. A. V. Chase went Overseas with the Clearing Services Command and returned with the rank of Captain. He will be remembered by all returning officers and men who passed through or had dealings with the Clearing Depot, Halifax, as a very efficient officer. Sergt. W. A. Coyne proceeded Overseas as Captain Clearing Services Command and is now struck off strength. Sergt. F. A. Chew proceeded Overseas with the 25th Battalion, returned as a Captain in the C.A.P.C., and is now struck off strength to Pension.

Capt. G. C. Sircom, son of Brigadier-General S. J. R. Sircom, after return from Overseas, was employed in the Pay Office, and now has a commission in the Permanent Army Pay Corps.

LIEUT.-COL. J.A.C. MOWBRAY, O.B.E.]

Lieut.-Col. J. A. C. Mowbray, when war was declared, offered his services and was detailed as Paymaster to the 2nd Brigade, C.F.A., proceeding Overseas with that Unit. After serving in France for about one year he was recalled to London to fill a post in the Pay Office Headquarters. He became Deputy Assistant Paymaster-General, was awarded the O.B.E., and later was transferred to Canada to fill his present position, which is designated as Senior Pay Officer for Nova Scotia.

The following are a few of the officers who did good work in this Division during the War, either before proceeding Overseas or returning from Overseas on demobilization or as Paymasters of Units:—Major J. Taylor, Major M. H. Morrison, Major R. H. Humphrey, Major J. D. Murphy, Major Colin MacIntosh, Capt. H. Powis Herbert, Capt. G. C. Milsom, Capt. W. W. Brignell, Capt. C. S. Simpson, Capt. R. Bartholomew, Capt. H. A. MacDonald, Capt. J. L. Melanson, Capt. R. H. Hardwicke, Capt. A. A. Cameron, Capt. Tait Scott, Capt. H. W. Ireland, Capt. Walter Ruggles, Capt. W. C. L. Bauld, Capt. R. MacDougall, Lieut. H. S. Major, Lieut. W. E. McDonald, Lieut. H. A. Allum, Lieut. H. S. Simpson, Lieut. W. J. O’Donnell.

To show the vast amount of work carried out by this Detachment the following statement of monthly expenditure is appended. This does not include disbursements for clothing and equipment, horses, transports, camp supplies, wagons, etc., but purely pay and allowance of troops and their upkeep. Considering the amount of cash handled it is satisfactory to know that not one cent was lost to the public by misappropriation or otherwise.

CANADIAN ARMY PAY CORPS

1914. 1915. 1916. 1917.

Jan. $482,294 94 $896,549 00 $666,896 18 Feb. 470,046 71 976,053 25 644,126 11 Mar. 662,605 50 1,153,944 98 675,447 01 Supp. 287,295 99 868,515 21 5,506 91 Apr. 573,994 33 926,836 11 747,234 96 May 589,433 57 1,140,637 41 691,321 20 June 460,883 20 1,269,057 73 679,157 80 July 421,362 69 928,319 09 579,265 37 Aug. $161,021 38 418,878 19 911,739 50 571,727 69 Sept. 314,031 19 447,655 00 849,942 58 550,065 71 Oct. 307,412 29 533,383 39 819,436 00 745,190 00 Nov. 342,922 32 602,738 82 752,020 66 697,784 22 Dec. 459,147 34 867,574 05 683,957 09 535,004 98 ————————————— ————————————— —————————————— ————————————— Total. $1,584,534 52 $6,818,146 38 $12,177,008 61 $7,788,728 14

1918. 1919. 1920.

Jan. $557,736 27 $683,909 27 $657,541 08 Feb. 518,971 86 872,284 08 402,801 20 Mar. 726,882 97 1,176,278 36 347,439 80 Supp. 18,643 78 26,683 87 60,765 01 Apr. 700,400 20 1,113,762 96 142,518 83 May 600,590 53 1,208,976 54 121,399 76 June 745,238 77 1,378,733 64 145,981 25 July 940,247 42 1,596,356 84 132,327 77 Aug. 709,107 18 1,638,684 02 Sept. 595,238 78 1,505,466 80 Oct. 614,166 48 1,727,033 48 Nov. 610,452 05 1,178,085 30 Dec. 671,840 28 862,424 00 ————————————— —————————————— ————————————— Total. $8,009,516 57 $14,968,679 16 $2,010,774 70

Summary.

1914 $1,584,534 52
1915 6,818,146 38
1916 12,177,008 61
1917 7,788,728 14
1918 8,009,516 57
1919 14,968,679 16
1920 2,010,774 70
———————
Total expenditure to July, 1920 $53,357,388 08