Above: Japanese Canadians soldiers of the 175th Battalion.--image courtesy Esplanade ARTS & HERITAGE CENTRE
Nelson Spencer’s successful political career as our Mayor during the boom years of 1912 and 1913 is so highly touted that his military career is sometimes overlooked. Certainly, his connection to the Japanese Canadians who fought for us during World War I is little known.
Nelson Spencer was born in New Brunswick and moved to Medicine Hat in 1902. A merchant by trade, he joined the 21st Alberta Hussars, a light cavalry unit created in Medicine Hat in 1908.
With the outbreak of the Great War, Spencer was given command of the 175th Medicine Hat Battalion, created on January 19,1916 and was appointed the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel. City council provided the new battalion with a vacant factory building converted into barracks where instruction and intensive training took place.
At the same time, on the British Columbia mainland, new Japanese Canadians, eager to prove their loyalty and worthiness for full Canadian citizenship, began drilling in Vancouver under the Canadian Army Services Corps.
In World War I, Japan was an ally. They were encouraged and financially supported by the Canadian Japanese Association. Training was halted four months later as the BC battalions would not accept the volunteer soldiers. Anti-Asian prejudice has been suggested as a motive.
When the Alberta battalions who were facing severe recruiting difficulties got word of the Japanese Canadians’ willingness to fight for their country, they welcomed them.
They were recruited into various Alberta battalions. Here in Medicine Hat, 56 Japanese Canadians joined Medicine Hat’s 175th Canadian Expeditionary Force under the leadership of Nelson Spencer.
The men received further training at Camp Sarcee in Calgary. According to author Roy Ito whose grandfather fought in the war, the first morning at Camp Sarcee the recruits were awakened by a bugle call and then taken to battalion headquarters. Seated at a large table covered with an army blanket was a smiling, moustached Lt. Col. Spencer, flanked by other officers. Spencer stood up and returned a salute.
He said, “My name is Spencer. Welcome to the 175th battalion. We are very glad to have you join us, and I know you will be good soldiers.”
And good soldiers they were. According to Tim Tamashiro, a veteran’s grandson, of the 201 Japanese- Canadians who were recruited into Alberta battalions, 59 were killed, 93 were wounded and 49 returned home safely.
Some of these soldiers fought at the Battle of the Somme and the Battle of Vimy Ridge. Some of these war heroes were later interned during World War II when Canada was at war with Japan.
The 175th and other Alberta units were broken up once overseas. At the end of the war, Nelson Spencer commanded the 31st Alberta Battalion on the front in France, until armistice. He was awarded the Distinguished Service Order for his contribution to the Great War. The historic Spencer residence is located at 134 Third St. SW. Spencer Street is named in his honour.
Sally Sehn is a past member of the Heritage Resources Committee, City of Medicine Hat.
