Fonds consists of original and microfilmed material of William Hare. It includes: diary, 28 Dec. 1899-26 Dec. 1900 describing Hare's service South Africa original, 2 cm; discharge certificate, birth certificate and reminiscences associated with South African service, 1901-1902, 1935, originals, 10 pages; notebooks, n.d., 1901-1902, originals, 1 cm, microfilm, 1 reel; scrapbook of material related to South Africa, 1899-1901, microfilm, 1 reel; correspondence accumulated by Hare as president of the South African Veterans Association of Ottawa, 1918-1960, originals 1.5 m; speech and broadcast notes on South African service, n.d., 1950-1970, originals, 1.5 cm; newspaper clippings, n.d., 1937, 1950-1970, photocopies, 1.5 cm; article by T.F. Wood on Leliefontein action, 1963, transcript, 14 pages; certificates, correspondence and newspaper clippings; James Arthur Hare correspondence, 1916-1917, originals, 47 pages; Frederick Hare correspondence, 1916-1917, originals, 11 pages; Henri Alexandre Panet correspondence, 1900, originals, 1.5 cm. Microfilmed material is located on microfilm reel M-301.
Hare, William Archibald, 1881-1972: Soldier
Born at Belmont, Ontario, William A. Hare, together with his father William R. Hare, enlisted for service in South Africa with "D" (Special Service) Battery, Royal Canadian Artillery in December 1899. The unit sailed from Halifax on the Laurentian, 21 January 1900 and reached Capetown on 20 February. Hare served nearly eleven months in South Africa seeing action in a number of engagements including the famous rearguard action at Leliefontein, 7 November 1900 in which three Victoria Crosses were won by Canadians. Returning to Canada, Hare was discharged at Halifax in January 1901.
In September 1901 Hare returned to South Africa on the transport ship Sicilian. He enlisted in the Canadian Scouts at Capetown, 16 November 1901 and served with "A" Squadron of that unit for the duration of the war. He obtained his discharge at Capetown, 25 June 1902.
After his return to Canada, Hare settled at Ottawa and was employed as a manufacturer's agent for various types of industrial and agricultural machinery. He was later president of the Hare Equipment Company. Hare was also very active as a member and later president of the South African Veterans Association of Ottawa.