@he war years:

When the First World War broke out in 1914, twenty—two men and one woman from the District volunteered their efforts. They did this in order to keep the German forces from crossing the seas; thus fulfilling their promise to “control the world”. The United Kingdom, which was very close to the battle areas, sent a plea to the “Dominions” for assistance.

The residents of the District quickly established themselves as excellent supporters of their ser— vice men. They began their support through the Provincial Red Cross, by sending large sums of money, boxes of food, canned goods. and sewing or knitted wear for the men. Hospital supplies and clothing were sent to the Nursing Sister, who was also serving Overseas.

Records of supplies which were sent during World War I are unavailable. However, it has been said that the women sent socks, mittens, caps for under the helmets, toques, undersweaters, and blankets. “Care packages” of food, cigarettes, and chocolate bars were sent to boost the morale

of the fighting men. Besides supporting the Red Cross and sending care packages, clothing was sent to the “Belgium Relief Fund”. Money was also sent to the “Halifax Relief Fund” following the Halifax

Explosion. The following will be of interest to many readers —

ISLAND MAN “MAKES DISTINCTIVE CONTRIBUTION TO WAR EFFORT THROUGH INVENTION OF TRACER BULLETS”

A grandson of James and Eliza (Bell) Clark of Campbellton was honored during the First World War for his efforts to build weapons with which to attack the enemy. His name was George J. Clark, son of William Clark, who left Prince Edward Island in 1899 and settled in West Andover, Massachusetts. According to Neil Matheson’s GUARDIAN story of April 5, 1971 — Mr. Clark purchased the old Anchor Forge where cannon balls were made during the

Revolutionary War. Here Clark started to make firecrackers which is still his principal occupation (1935) at the same location, in a plant which now covers 200 acres, fenced in, another 150 A. adjoining, and an airport of 100 A. . . The story of the tracer bullet began when Clark started to make aluminum powder some time in the 1900’s. He bought sawdust from the comb manufacturers where their

saws had ripped out the teeth for the aluminum combs. He made what the old story says was “the first aluminum powder in North America”.

CARPENTER’S CLAWHAMMERS

Mr. Clark procured a dozen carpenter’s clawhammers and attached to cams in a machine in such a manner that they pounded the aluminum dust into a fine powder.

‘A man named Charles (Aluminum) Briggs tended the machine and got his nick—name because he was covered with the Aluminum powder inside and out. In 1914, the War started on August 4 — England and France had machine guns firing through the pro— pellers, with tracer bullets to show where the bursts of bullets were going”.

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