Saturday 13 December 2014

Paisley


 
Location:  Bruce County   N 44 18.360  W 81 16.348
On the corner of Queen Street and Goldie Street.

In the heart of the downtown area of historic Paisley, proudly stands a wonderful memorial to the men of this town and neighbouring communities who gave their lives in the Great War.  A true testament to the dedication of the local citizens and the sadness of great loss associated with sacrifices of freedom, this beautiful cenotaph epitomizes the reason that I continue to discover the small towns and their memorials dedicated to the men of a stronger generation.  Paisley is like so many small towns of Ontario, who cherish their history and are proud of those who came before them to provide the freedoms we enjoy today.

Across the road stands the elegant old Town Hall, now home to Branch  295 of the Royal Canadian Legion.




Marker text:
Front:
PAISLEY

THOMAS BABCOCK
JAMES D. BAIN
FRED A. BALLACHEY
FRANK S. BOYLE
HAROLD COLLINS
WILLIAM CUNNINGHAM
JOHN L. HAMILTON
HARRY JACK
ROBERT MAWHINNEY
A. GLADSTONE  McGREGOR
DUNCAN C. McKERRACHER
JOHN McLEOD
HORACE PARKER
EMERSON A. PEARCE
JOHN ROLSTON

THEIR NAME LIVETH
FOR EVERMORE

IN HONOURED MEMORY OF THE MEN OF
PAISLEY AND ADJOINING TOWNSHIPS OF
BRUCE ELDERSLIE GREENOCK AND SAUGEEN
WHO GAVE THEIR LIVES IN THE GREAT WAR
1914 - 1919
 
 


 
Left side:
BRUCE
(EAST)

THOMAS ARCHER
ROY ATKINSON
ALEX C. McGILLIVRAY
JAS. McGILLIVRAY
R. BRUCE McGREGOR
ALEX N. McLEISH
WM. J. WHITE

GREENOCK
(NORTH)

JOHN McAFEE
WM. McLAGGAN
HUGH MEGRAW
THOMAS A. WOODS
 


 
Rear:
FOR KING
AND
COUNTRY

YPRES
SOMME
VIMY RIDGE
PASSCHENDAELE
BOURLON WOOD
CAMBRAI
ARRAS
AMIENS

"THESE LAID THE WORLD AWAY POURED OUT THE RED
SWEET WINE OF YOUTH GAVE UP THE YEARS TO BE
OF WORK AND JOY AND THAT UNHOPED SERENE
THAT MEN CALL AGE:-
AND WE HAVE COME INTO OUR HERITAGE"
                                                                        RUPERT BROOKE
 
 



Right side:
ELDERSLIE

WM. A. ANSTEAD
JOHN R. BLACKBURN
WM. HAMMOND
SYDLENY HOOEY
DOUGLAS JAY
DOUGALD McLEAN
DAVID SCOBIE
JOHN WOODS
JOHN YOUNG


SAUGEEN
(EAST)
JAMES MILLER
GEORGE MUIR
GEO. E. SWITZER
M WM. SWITZER
 























Sunday 7 December 2014

Smithville



Location:  Niagara Region   N 43 05.786  W 79 32.585
172 St. Catharines Street (Highway 20), Smithville.
 

This pleasant memorial is found in front of the Royal Canadian Legion Branch 393.  The memorial is in the shape of a cross, adorned with a sword.  There are also some attractive murals painted on the side of the legion.  Behind the legion is a senior citizens housing complex, sponsored by the legion, showing the great community support generated by this wonderful institution.


Marker text:
(Legion Crest)

LEST WE FORGET

1914 - WORLD WAR I - 1918
1939 - WORLD WAR II - 1945
1950 - KOREAN WAR - 1953




Tuesday 2 December 2014

Moon River



Location:  Parry Sound District   N 45 08.610  W 79 59.036
On Grisdale's Road, just off Healey Lake Road, in the settlement of Wood's Bay.
 

This memorial recognizes those from the Moon River area, who served in the major conflicts of Canada's history, starting with the Northwest Rebellion.  Very few memorials pay any tribute to this bloody skirmish, so it's nice to see such a small village take notice.



Marker text:
Front:
MOON RIVER
REMEMBERING THOSE
WHO SERVED

NORTHWEST REBELLION
1884-1885
A. DION

WORLD WARI
1914-1918
A.J. GRISDALE
J.L. LONGLAD
C.W. MYERS

D. CASCANETTE
G. DION
N. DION

WORLD WAR II
1939-1945
SPR. P.J. GRISDALE
SPR. M.F. GRISDALE
PTE. L.C. MARTIN
PTE. L.F. MARTIN
TPR. B.L. MARTIN
SGT. A.H. MYERS
SGT. H.L. O'ROURKE  M.M.

PTE J. ARNOLD
PTE. J. CASCANETTE
PTE. J.E. KING
L/S K.M. McGRATTEN
L/WREN M.P. McGRATTEN
PTE. C.E. ROURKE
TPR. L.W. CHAPDELAINE

A SPECIAL THANK YOU TO
LT. COL. W.T. JOHNSON
FOR HIS HELP WITH THIS MEMORIAL
 



Left side:
CPL. T.J. GRISDALE

PTE. S.W. GRISDALE

CPL J.M. CASCANETTE

A.F. MARTIN  R.C.A.F.

CPL. H.J. GREFFEL
 



Right side:
WORLD WAR II

SGT. D.C. CRAWFORD
ARMY

FLT. SGT. W.G. McCRON
RCAF

SGT. S.L.W. McCRON
RCAF

SGT. A.G. McCRON
RCAF




Monday 24 November 2014

Hespeler



Location:   Waterloo Region   N 43 25.880  W 80 18.580
In front of the old Hespeler City Hall, near the corner of Queen Street E and Tannery Street.


The village of Hespeler, now part of the city of Cambridge erected a beautiful memorial to honour its lost sons.  Built in 1948, this tall granite shaft is engraved with the names of the major battles of the World Wars.  It has undergone recent refurbishing, and there continues to be concern over the possibility of damage to the cenotaph from local skateboarders and vandals. 
The legion continues to maintain and watch over this gallant piece of history.  A fitting tribute to the many men of the Hespeler region who laid down their lives for the freedoms we enjoy today, even the damaging and disrespectful ones. 


Marker text:
Front:
TO OUR
GLORIOUS DEAD
 


Left side:
1914-1918

YPRES
VIMY
SOMME
ARRAS

1950-1952
KOREAN
WAR
 


Right side:
1939-1945

DIEPPE
ORTONA
CAEN
HOCHWALD






Thursday 20 November 2014

Cayuga - Memorial Arena

 

Location:  Haldimand County   N 42° 56.800 W 079° 51.110
In front of the arena on Thorburn Street and Chippawa Street E.



The original arena, built in this spot in 1921-22, was dedicated to the memory of those who fought in the Great War.  When this new arena was built in 2011, the town continued the theme of a Memorial Arena.  This large stone sits outside the main entrance of the facility, as a reminder to all who enter, of the sacrifices made by those who came before.

Marker text:
CAYUGA
MEMORIAL
ARENA

THE ORIGINAL CAYUGA ARENA, BUILT
IN 1921-22, WAS DEDICATED AS A
MEMORIAL IN HONOUR OF THE MILITARY
PERSONNEL WHO PAID THE ULTIMATE
SACRIFICE FOR CANADA IN WORLD WAR I.

THIS ARENA, ERECTED IN 2011,
PERPETUATES THE ORIGINAL SPIRIT
AND SERVES AS AN ONGOING MEMORIAL
TO THOSE WHO PERISHED IN THE
SERVICE OF THEIR COUNTRY IN
SUBSEQUENT CONFLICTS.

LEST WE FORGET.


Saturday 15 November 2014

Trenton - Fraser Park

 

Location:   Hastings County   N 44° 06.024 W 077° 34.513
At the entrance to Fraser Park, just off Fraser Park Drive, near the Legion.

The gate at the entrance to Fraser Park was the original Great War memorial for Trenton.  These beautiful gates sit across the road from the Royal Canadian Legion Branch 110, and beside the much larger, more impressive and newer cenotaph which was built in 1968.
These gates were built after the First World War, and list the names of those lost during that terrible conflict of 1914 to 1918.  The names of those lost in the Second World War were later on the back of the gates.  The Imperial Order of the Daughters of the Empire were the group responsible for creating this monument, as they did in many small towns across the nation.  The gates acted as the main cenotaph for the town for many decades.


Marker text:
Front left:
IN MEMORIAM

PRIVATES
C. CONKRIGHT
J. ENTWHISTLE
T.C. MC WILLIAMS
J.W. MC MULLEN
C.W. MILLIGEN
C.F. QUACKENBUSH
M. WANNAMAKER
J.W. WOODACRE

H.H. BARNHAM
E.A. BISSELL
J.T. CARROLL
W.O. DISELEST
F.J. KEELER
J.W. HIBBERT
P.W. LAPOINTE
C. MOUNTEMAY
R.J. PEARSON
H.W. REDDICK
W. ROCHLEAU
W.J. SMITH
F. SPAFFORD
H.E. TAYLOR
T.E. ALLORE
J.E. BLAKLEY
B.P. CRONK
T. GUNYON
K. HICKS
W.A. MEATH
W. RYAL
R. WRIGHT

A.C. BILLINGS
C.A. BILLINGS
J.W. CLOONEY
L.J. FURNIER
J.A. KELLAR
R. MORRISON
B.A.R. LEACH
J.B. NEWTON
C.R. POTTER
J.F. REDDICK
F.J. SHONIKER
A.H. SNIDER
N.B. SPURLES
K. WILKINS
E. BARRAM
FF.J. BURTT
J. CALNA
C. HICKS
A. KELLY
P. VALIERE
W. WELLER
G.D. FRIEND
J.L. YOUNG
 


Front right:
1914 - 1919

CAPT. R.A. IRELAND C.A.M.D.
CAPT. H.H. LITTLE C.A.M.D.
FLT-LT. R.A. PHILLIPS R.A.F.
FLT-LT. K.V. TUNNEY R.A.F.
LIEUT. F.T.P. COND R.Y.N.R.
LIEUT. J.A. COLLINS
LIEUT. J.D. COLLINS
LIEUT. H. HAYES
SERGT. K. DELISLE
SERGT. A. PATCH
LANC-CORP. D. FULFORD
BDR. J.H. GALLAGHER
BDR. A. RUSSELL

"GREATER LOVE HATH NO MAN
THAN THIS, THAT A MAN LAY
DOWN HIS LIFE FOR HIS
FRIENDS."

ERECTED BY "THE GOVERNOR
SIMCOE CHAPTER" IMPERIAL
ORDER DAUGHTERS OF THE
EMPIRE.

TEALLIE WHITE
REGENT
 


Rear left:
IN MEMORIAM

CHARLES ALLISON
GERALD ANDERSON
ARTHUR BILLINGS
ARCHIE BOWEN
JOHN CLARKE
ERIC COLP
PAUL COLTMAN
SIDNEY COTTRELL
MURRAY DIXON
RAYMOND DOLAN
ROY DRAKE
CLARENCE FRAUTTS
JOHN GENEREAUX
RALPH GONYEA
WILLIAM HAZELTON
FARLEY HILL
ACHIE HUNTER
CLARKE JACKSON
ARTHUR JOHNSON
RAY JOHNSON
A.H. JOHNSON
EDRIC S. NEIL
ROY NORTHROP
 







Rear right:
1938-1945

ARTHUR KEMP
JAMES KERR
GERALD LEVERIDGE
KENNETH MARTIN
CECIL MC CORMICK
J.F. MC DONALD
HARRY MC KENZIE
WALTER MORAN
CLARKE MC MURRAY
LESLIE MENZIE
ALLAN MYLES
BRIAN ORCHARD
EARL POTTS
ERNEST RUTTAN
CHESTER SHEPPARD
ELMER SILVERTHORNE
GERALD SIMPSON
ROSS SUCCEE
BRUCE SUTCLIFFE
REGINALD WEEKS
BRUCE WILSON
EARL D. PHILLIPS




Saturday 8 November 2014

Queenston

 
 


Location:  Niagara Region   N 43 10.204  W 79 03.441
At the intersection of Niagara Parkway and Queenston Street.
 

A beautiful memorial in one of the most historic towns in Ontario.  This memorial is dedicated to those who fought in the World Wars and Korea.  Featuring a statue of a young WWI soldier atop a granite shaft, with the names of those who died in the conflicts, and the names of the major battles they fought in during the 1914-1918 Great War.



Marker text:
Front:
LEST WE FORGET

THIS MONUMENT IS DEDICATED IN MEMORY OF
THE MEN OF NIAGARA TOWNSHIP WHO GAVE
THEIR LIVES FOR THE CAUSE OF FREEDOM IN THE
GREAT WAR

1914 - 1918

AND IN WORLD WAR II
1939 - 1945
WHOSE NAMES ARE RECORDED AND IN
HONOUR OF THOSE WHO SERVED

KOREA
1950 - 1953

TO YOU FROM FAILING HANDS WE THROW THE TORCH
BE YOURS TO LIFT IT HIGH

TOWNSHIP OF NIAGARA
 



Left side:
1914 - 1918
LIEUT. NORMAN C. NELLES
JOHN M. KELSON
WILLIAM ARCHER
JAMES RENNIE
ADELBURT S. GREEN
WRIGHT LOWREY
CHARLES S. McCOY

JAMES WILMOTT
LLOYD GRIFFITHS
FREDERICK LEGATT
HAROLD BUDD
ERNEST HOUGHTON
JOHN McKAY
JAMES HATT

ARTHUR McLEOD
EDWARD PETERS
WILLIAM McLEOD
HENRY COWL
ALBERT COWL
LESLIE GUDNEY

TOWNSHIP OF NIAGARA
 



Rear:
2nd BATTLE YPRES
ST. JULIEN
FESTUBERT
GIVENCHY
SANCTUARY WOOD
ZILLIBECK

HOODGE
THE SOMME
COURCELETTE
VIMY
FRESNOY
HILL 70

PASSCHENDAELE
CAMBRAI
AMIENS
ARRAS
MONS

TOWNSHIP OF NIAGARA
 



Right side:
1939 - 1945
R.C. ADAM
W. BROWN
D. COOPER
F.C. DUGGAN

J. FAST
C. HOLLINGSWORTH
J.A. HUTCHISON
N.H. MANLEY
F. WARD

R.E. WING
D.F. PARR
J.L. HUTCHISON
A.H. GRANGE

TOWNSHIP OF NIAGARA