Till the Boys Come Home: Life on the Home Front in Queens County, NB, 1914-1918 (New Brunswick Militry Heritage)

A century after the beginning of the Great War, the contributions of the Maritimes to the formation of the Canadian Expeditionary force remain relatively unexplored. Till the Boys Come Home examines the conduct of the war through the eyes of one particular agricultural and coal-mining community. As the clouds of war gathered across the Atlantic, the people of Queens County found themselves caught between the forces of tradition and change, struggling to balance military service with their commitments to domestic industry and charitable volunteerism. While their contribution to the overall military effort lagged behind that of the province at large, they were nonetheless determined to supply comforts to men at the front and to remind them that they were not alone in their fight — suggesting that, in the community, peoples'sense of patriotic duty extended to their main business of feeding and fuelling the province. With few exceptions, the men and women of Queens County supported the war by taking care of their own — both those from the county who volunteered for service and the families they left behind. Drawing on a wide range of archival sources, Curtis Mainville discusses patterns of military enlistment and labour; the intersections of local, regional, and national politics; and the ongoing tensions between the war effort and domestic needs, Till the Boys Come Home links the experiences of Queens County's men and women on the home front to those of their brothers and sisters serving overseas, resulting in a rich portrait of a community at war. Till the Boys Come Home is volume 22 in the New Brunswick Military Heritage Series. A century after the beginning of the Great War, the contributions of the Maritimes to the formation of the Canadian Expeditionary force remain relatively unexplored. Till the Boys Come Home examines the conduct of the war through the eyes of one particular agricultural and coal-mining community. As the clouds of war gathered across the Atlantic, the people of Queens County found themselves caught between the forces of tradition and change, struggling to balance military service with their commitments to domestic industry and charitable volunteerism. While their contribution to the overall military effort lagged behind that of the province at large, they were nonetheless determined to supply comforts to men at the front and to remind them that they were not alone in their fight suggesting that, in the community, peoples' sense of patriotic duty extended to their main business of feeding and fuelling the province. With few exceptions, the men and women of Queens County supported the war by taking care of their own both those from the county who volunteered for service and the families they left behind. Drawing on a wide range of archival sources, Curtis Mainville discusses patterns of military enlistment and labour; the intersections of local, regional, and national politics; and the ongoing tensions between the war effort and domestic needs, Till the Boys Come Home links the experiences of Queens County's men and women on the home front to those of their brothers and sisters serving overseas, resulting in a rich portrait of a community at war. Till the Boys Come Home is volume 22 in the New Brunswick Military Heritage Series. As Clouds Of War Gathered Across The Atlantic, The People Of Queens County Found Themselves Caught Between The Forces Of Tradition And Change, Struggling To Balance Military Service With Their Commitments To Domestic Industry And Charitable Volunteerism. While Their Contribution To The Military Effort May Have Lagged Behind That Of The Province At Large, They Were Nonetheless Determined To Supply Comforts To Men At The Front And To Remind Them That They Were Not Alone In Their Fight. Their Sense Of Patriotic Duty Included Not Only Overseas Service In Uniform But Also Service At Home On The Farms And In The Coal Mines Athe Fed And Fuelled The Province. With Few Exceptions, The Men And Women Of Queens County Supported The War By Taking Care Of Their Own -- Both Those From The County Who Volunteered For Service And The Families They Left Behind. Drawing On A Wide Range Of Archival Sources, Till The Boys Come Home Links The Experiences Of The Men And Women Of Queens County On The Home Front To Those Of Their Brothers And Sisters Serving Overseas. The Result Is A Rich Portrait Of A Community At War. Till The Boys Come Home: Life On The Home Front, Queens County, Nb, 1914-1918 Is Volume 22 Of The New Brunswick Military Heritage Series. As clouds of war gathered across the Atlantic, the people of Queens County found themselves caught between the forces of tradition and change, struggling to balance military service with their commitments to domestic industry and charitable volunteerism. While their contribution to the military effort may have lagged behind that of the province at large, they were nonetheless determined to supply comforts to men at the front and to remind them that they were not alone in their fight. Their sense of patriotic duty included not only overseas service in uniform but also service at home on the farms and in the coal mines that fed and fuelled the province. With few exceptions, the men and women of Queens County supported the war by taking care of their own--both those from the county who volunteered for service and the families they left behind. Drawing on a wide range of archival sources, [this book] links the experience of the men and women of Queens County on the home front to those of their brothers and sisters serving overseas. The result is a rich portrait of a community at war. -- Back cover