Ceremony in Halifax marks departure of soldiers who fought in the Great War

WATCH: A ceremony at the place where many World War 1 soldiers took their final step on Canadian soil was held at Pier 21, to mark the 100th anniversary of the Saxonia leaving port for Europe. Ray Bradshaw has more.

HALIFAX – Plans are in the works for a new memorial on the Halifax waterfront to mark the 100th anniversary of the departure of the first full battalion of Nova Scotia soldiers to fight in the First World War.

On May 20, 1915, more than 1,000 soldiers with Nova Scotia’s 25th Battalion were joined on a transport ship by another 1,000 soldiers from Quebec’s Royal 22e Regiment, who are better known as the Van Doos.

Together, the two units would fight side-by-side for the duration of the war, forging deep bonds during battles in Belgium at Ypres and later in France at the Battle of the Somme, Vimy Ridge and Passchendaele.

Earlier Wednesday, a special military ceremony was held at Canada’s Immigration Museum at Pier 21 to pay tribute to the 2,200 soldiers who boarded HMTS Saxonia, which set sail for England from Pier 2.

The ceremony featured two bagpipers, a drummer and three soldiers dressed in First World War uniforms marching into a hall at Pier 21, where an artist’s conception of the new memorial was unveiled.

The memorial will feature the prints of soldiers’ boots on a wooden gangway beneath an arch with the words “The Last Steps” etched on the top.

Artist Nancy Keating said it represents a moment in time when HMTS Saxonia left Halifax for war service.

“It represents the spot where they were. It represents the footprints of the battalion. It represents the footprints of the common people who joined the 25th and also the 22nd,”she said.

The Nova Scotians and Quebecers aboard the ship formed a bond and the commanding officer of the Quebec regiment said he was happy to be included in the ceremony.

“It’s a great honour,” said Lt.-Col. Mario Ferland. “Those last steps, as they called them, really were the first steps for the Van Doos going into war and the beginning of their great tradition and honour.”

Hundred-year-old officers’ laced-up boots sat below the artist’s rendition at the ceremony. They were worn by one officer who walked up the gangway when the ship left Halifax.

“The gangway then leads up to the entrance way of the ship,” said Retired Canadian Army Maj. Ken Hynes “The idea was the gangway leads to nothing, which hopefully will cause some folks to reflect on the activities that took place here 100 years ago.”

Keating said her work now holds a special place in her heart.

“I’m very proud of this,” she said. “I come from a military family and I’m very proud of my heritage. So now I have something forever that connects me to my family and our military heritage.”

– With files from Ray Bradshaw, Global News