On the morning of May 29, 1914, the Toronto Star announced to a shocked nation that the Empress of Ireland had been rammed and sunk in the St. Lawrence River.

On board were more than 150 Salvation Army members, bound for an international congress in London, England. Most of them, including the national commander, his assistant, and 29 members of the 41-piece staff band, were drowned.

1914 was billed by The Salvation Army as “a year to remember.”