Commissioner Black addresses an exuberant crowd on Front Street upon his arrival in Dawson City, June 6, 1916. Gates Collection
A large and enthusiastic crowd met the Blacks when they arrived in Dawson on June 8. Joe Boyle, who had often been George’s adversary in the past, greeted them and escorted them ashore, while a brass band played patriotic songs. Black, still weak from the surgery, walked briskly in full uniform into the street, where he greeted a line of fresh recruits, one hundred strong. He walked along, shaking the hand of each man. Boyle then addressed the Blacks, acknowledging Martha, whom he described as “a faithful worker in the cause of the Empire.”106
Young students from the Dawson Public School enlisted during the war. George Black (in uniform) and Martha Black were proud of their son Lyman (front row, third from left) for enlisting. Yukon Archives Roy Minter fonds 92/15 # 746
George responded by acknowledging the large number of Yukon men who had already volunteered and the amount of money that had been donated to the cause by Yukoners. He said that the time was past when only single men should enlist. “It is a thought that is not only for every lover of freedom and every lover of civilization; and it is the duty of every lover of freedom and civilization to make that thought his own.”107
Black referred to the legions of Americans who had come north to cities like Toronto, Winnipeg and Vancouver to enlist: “American citizens who feel as you and I feel about this war—that they want to get in it and help the allies win, because if they don’t—if the allies lose—it will not be long before the United States will come next, and that can only be prevented by fighting with us.”108 After the Yukon Company marched back down Front Street to the barracks, with hundreds of citizens following the parade, the Blacks were conveyed to Government House.109
The first contingent of volunteers was scheduled to leave Dawson the following day. Among them were a number of students from the Dawson City public school. Just before noon, they assembled on the front steps of the school with various dignitaries for a photograph. George and Martha Black were there, along with their son Lyman. It was a proud moment for George Black, Lyman’s stepfather, and the only father Lyman ever knew. (Unlike his two older brothers, Warren and Donald, Lyman never met his biological father, who split up with his wife, Martha, before she departed for the Klondike.) A few months later, on November 15, Lyman Munger Purdy had his surname changed to Black, in recognition of George’s parental role.110 Among the other students were Alfred and Norton Townsend, Frank Thompson (son of Dr. W.E. Thompson), Toby Duclos, Joseph Harkin and little Jimmy Matthews. Matthews, the youngest of the lot, was also the smallest. A mere 157 centimetres tall, he had to stand one step higher than the other lads for the photo in order to be shoulder to shoulder with them. The only one absent was Charlie O’Brien, the son of the brewery king T.W. O’Brien. Other students had already gone off to war; included among them were Donald Chester Davis and Frank Gane, both of whom would die overseas.
School superintendent Bragg remarked: “You are now going forth to preserve and perpetuate those grand ideals of British freedom. Others from our school have preceded you and may now be on the field of battle.”111 They were all presented with a solid gold engraved disc, with the name of the recruit and a space for his regimental number on the reverse.
At eight that evening, the students were among the 129 men who lined up in front of the courthouse at the south end of Front Street for a photograph. There, the ladies of the IODE pinned a souvenir Klondike badge on every man’s coat. The evening before, they had presented each recruit with a handsome monogrammed utility kit, containing buttons, needles, pins, shoelaces and such. They had also raised sufficient funds for all of them to be presented with a wristwatch when they reached Victoria. Lieutenant G.G. Hulme called off the roll, and the men responded, “Here, sir.” Then Captain Black spoke to them. He “wished to congratulate the men on the manly part they have volunteered to do in the Empire’s cause.” Further, he said “the report has spread in certain places outside that men from the Yukon are much given to drinking.” He hoped that “this company would prove to them such is not the case, and that the best of reports will be heard from them. Nothing is so disgusting… as to see one in uniform disgrace the uniform by being intoxicated.”112
The men then fell into formation in front of the courthouse and marched down Front Street to the steamer berthed at the dock, followed by Mrs. Black and Mrs. Hulme, with her small son, Croft, in a carriage. George Brimston, who acted as parade marshal, led the home guard at the head of the procession. Then the Boy Scouts and the Girl Guides, all in uniform, followed. Next were members of the Yukon Order of Pioneers, two abreast. Pat Penny carried the banner of the order. Other members carried the flags of Britain, France and other allied nations. Then came the Dawson brass band playing stirring patriotic marches. One of the volunteers led the company mascot, a handsome grey malamute.
Finally came the volunteers, described in the Dawson Daily News as: “Stalwart, rugged, lithe, firm of step, resolute and ready for come what may. At the head walked Captain Black, presenting a splendid appearance in his khaki uniform… the men presented a stirring sight and as they marched past the large crowd of friends mingled emotions of sadness and pride struck every heart.”113
At the wharf, the Yukon Rifle Association parted ranks and presented arms. The Guides, Scouts and Pioneers stepped aside on the wharf, and the men marched through and onto the deck of the steamer: “The brave boys destined for the front swarmed over the boat from the Texas deck to the lower deck and soon were bidding a fond adieu to old friends… Husbands were embracing wives and little children, sweethearts were tearfully expressing their last well-wishes, and old pards of the trail and camp were giving the firm hand and ‘God Bless you Bill and good luck.’”114
The first group of volunteers for the George Black contingent posed in front of the Administration Building for this photo, June 8, 1916, before leaving Dawson the following day. Gates Collection
As the summer passed, more recruits were signed up. On July 11, thirty-five “brave lads” were honoured by the community before leaving Dawson on the steamer Selkirk, bound for Victoria.115 They assembled in front of the courthouse at the south end of Front Street, and after a group photo, they were greeted by the various chapters of the IODE, which were there to hand out the usual sewing and repair kits (“housewives”), though the Klondike badges would have to be forwarded to them in Victoria. They then turned about-face and marched out of the Mounted Police parade square, where they joined up with the Dawson Guards, followed by the Boy Scouts, the flag-bearing ladies of the IODE and the brass band, playing a lively march. Behind them were citizens in automobiles and others on foot. They made their way past Government House, where Captain Black, still recovering from his surgery, watched them from the broad upper verandah and saluted as they passed. Mrs. Black watched them from the boardwalk along the side of the street until they passed and continued down Front Street to the wharf. The dock was thick with people who soon swarmed aboard the vessel, wishing the men farewell.
Just before their departure, Alexander Mahaffy, the former vice-principal of the school, and commanding officer of the party, was presented with a pair of binoculars of the type used by officers at the front, as well as a gold disc similar to those given to the departing students, and received a speech by one of