The Temptation of War: How Alcohol Affected the Canadian First World War Experience in Hastings, 1917. Issue 4 (4th July 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Flanagan, Luke
• Is Part Of: Journal of Imperial and Commonwealth history. Volume 49:Issue 4(2021)
• Page Start: 688
• Page End: 711
• Publication Date: 2021-07-04
• Subjects: Alcohol -- temperance -- prohibition -- hastings -- empire -- Britain -- Canada -- temptation; Commonwealth countries -- History -- Periodicals; Great Britain -- Colonies -- History -- Periodicals; Electronic journals; 909.0971241
• DOI: 10.1080/03086534.2021.1892373
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0308-6534

Abstract

ABSTRACT: This article analyses the consumption of alcohol amongst Canadian soldiers based in the East Sussex town of Hastings in 1917. It shows that more relaxed restrictions on alcohol in Britain to those in Canada, all provinces and eventually the federal government had prohibited alcohol by 1918, proved too much of a temptation for some Canadians, who were caught up in instances of drunkenness, disorder and petty crime. The wide availability of alcohol in the town coupled with poor administration and scattered billets provided a fertile environment for ill-discipline. This caused tension between some in the community and the Canadians. Another theme which started to emerge in Hastings was that Canada was more socially advanced than Britain. The motherland's reluctance to completely ban alcohol was viewed as archaic and backwards. For some Canadians, this warranted a loosening of the attachment to Britain and the Empire in favour of Canada. The Canadian's experience of alcohol in Hastings may, therefore, point to how Canada was moving away from Britain and the Empire and strengthening its own sense of self. This aspect warrants further research.