Chapleau railroaders bring honour to community winning first aid awards including national championship in 1927

A "splendid banquet" was held in the YMCA to pay tribute to four Canadian Pacific Railway employees who had demonstrated their skill in first aid which included a  national championship in 1927.
 
The Dominion (as Canada was in 1927 when they achieved their success) championship team was composed  of A.L Smith (captain), Harry Searle, R.K Smith and E.R. Moncrieff, the Chapleau Post reported. 
 
However, the team enjoyed more success in 1927 than winning the Montizambert cup and individual gold medals emblematic of the Canadian championship,  but they also won individual silver medals as runners-up in the Wallace-Nesbitt competition for the best four railroader first aiders in the Dominion, which was lost by the narrow margin of two points; the championship of Algoma district for the CPR,  and the provincial shield for the championship of the province of Ontario.
 
In winning the Algoma district championship they were assisted by V. Goldstein and Ernie Quelch.
 
Before sharing more details, I just have to comment that when I came across the story of this remarkable achievement by the Chapleau railroaders in 1927, I was totally amazed -- not because I doubted their ability, but it was another example of citizens from a small community achieving great success far beyond its borders.
 
The only team member I recall knowing was Mr. Searle who was the passenger agent at the station for many years, and World War I veteran, who became so well known as the first president of  Branch Number 5 (Ontario) of the Royal Canadian Legion, and had led the Chapleau delegation to the Legion founding convention in Winnipeg in 1925. The branch is named after Mr. Searle.
 
The Chapleau Post reported that the team's prowess had been demonstrated at the Canadian National Exhibition in Toronto in August 1927 at the request of the Ontario Workmen's Compensation Board and had been "highly commented upon" by officials. 
 
The Canadian championship team members were presented with gold stick pins by their friends in Chapleau, while Robert Von Goldstein was presented with a handsome briar pipe in recognition of his interest in first aid work prior to his retirement.
 
Master mechanic T. Hambly "eulogized the team for their brilliant performance and commented on the distinction they had brought to the town of Chapleau, but also to Algoma district (of the CPR)"

When team captain A.L. Smith was called upon to speak, he was interrupted before he could begin when the 100 present arose en masse singing "They are jolly good fellows" followed by three cheers and tiger. Mr. Smith expressed thanks of the team for the wonderful reception and interest in their success.
 
Dr. J.J. Sheahan spoke about the "Safety First" campaign started by the CPR, making reference to the reduction in number of accidents now occurring, adding that efficient first aid could greatly lessen the suffering involved. 
 
Mr. Searle paid tribute to Fred Wilson for the considerable time and effort he had spent on first aid work laying the excellent foundation prior to his departure from Chapleau.
 
Rev. Harold Hesketh, rector of St. John's Anglican Church, spoke about the team's achievements and the "honour which had come to the town and the steady and painstaking work necessary to become the leading first aid team in the Dominion of Canada". 
 
To wind up the the evening a musical program was presented followed by votes of thanks to the YMCA for the splendid banquet. All joined in the singing of "Auld Lang Syne" followed by the national anthem. My email is mj.morris@live.ca