Chapter Two

Vimy Ridge and Conscription, January - November 1917

From: The Bitter Harvest of War

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In this chapter, Theobald provides an overview on the bitter debate over conscription in New Brunswick and across Canada. Both federally and provincially, the Conservatives and Liberals were divided on how to best address the issue of low recruitment numbers and high casualty rates, launching the argument for and against mandatory military service. This argument concluded with the declaration of the Military Service Act in 1917, which instituted the mandatory conscription of all men between twenty to forty-five into the service.