Grafton Legion Branch 580

 

Location:  Northumberland County   N 43 49.025  W 78 03.793
On the north side of Highway 2, in front of the Legion.

This memorial is somewhat unique, in that it is constructed with stones from the beaches of Dieppe.  The Royal Canadian Legion Branch #580, is named after Lt. Col. John W. Foote  VC. CD., who served with the Royal Hamilton Light Infantry.  He was decorated with the Victoria Cross for bravery at Dieppe.  He is the only member of the Canadian Chaplain Services to ever have received this medal.    The armoury in Hamilton has been re-named after him, and is now listed as a Canadian Historicsl Site.  After the war, he resided in nearby Cobourg.  For more history of Lt. Col. Foote's bravery and storied life, please refer to the Legion website:
 http://www.rcl580.ca/lt-col-john-w-foote-v-c-c-d/

The memorial itself is mostly constructed of field stones, with some Dieppe stones added for decoration by the Dieppe War Veterans Association.  The top of the memorial features a sundial, which is something I have never seen before on any memorial, and I am unsure of its significance.  Three small plaques have been added to the face of the memorial and a Dieppe stone cross is in the centre.



Marker text:
Top plaque:
LT. COL. JOHN W. FOOTE  V.C. C.D.
R.C.L. BR. 580  GRAFTON, ONTARIO
 


Middle plaque:
WE WILL REMEMBER THEM
1919-18; 1939-45; 1950-53
 


Lower plaque:
STONES FROM
DIEPPE WAR VETERANS ASSOC.
DEDICATED JUNE 1983