"Gault’s Light Infantry” Leaked to the Canadian Public
On August 4th, 1914, Britain declared war on Germany in response to the invasion of Belgium. Due to a deeply entwined alliance structure, war in Europe had erupted. With its Dominion status, Canada would follow Britain into conflict.
On that same day, Gault was horrified to learn that a Toronto newspaper, the Toronto Mail & Empire, had run a story about his attempts to raise “Gault’s Light Infantry.” His proposal to Hughes in Ottawa had been leaked to the public. Gault received a telegram from the Minister in Ottawa with the message, “Regret conversation overheard and not understood to be confidential.” This was Gault’s first realization that he could not entirely trust Sam Hughes.
Gault's rough ideas on raising a Regiment |