Chesterfield

 
 
Location:  Oxford County     N 43 17.660   W 80 40.120
In the churchyard at the corner of County Road 22 and Township Road 13.
 
 
"Chesterfield was an early farming hamlet in Oxford County, first settled in the 1830s. By the 1840s, it has a store and Presbyterian church. A post office was added in 1851. It later grew to include a blacksmith, wagon-maker and school.
During the 1880s and 90s, Chesterfield was a thriving little hamlet with a population of around 150. Most of its businesses were farm-based and included a number of live stock breeders and dealers and of course a veterinarian.
Like many farming hamlets, Chesterfield began to decline in the early part of the 20th century. Improved roads and the advent of the automobile, enabled farmers to travel to larger centres that offered a wider range of services. As time marched on, Chesterfield slowly began to revert back to farmland.
One institution that remained active was the former Presbyterian church, now known as the Chesterfield United Church. The church continues to hold regular services and maintains an exceptionally large and elaborate cemetery. The cemetery contains a number of World War I veterans as well as a striking cenotaph, built during the 1920s. In recognition of those who died while in service to their country, Remembrance Day services are held annually at the site."
*Thanks to  http://www.ghosttownpix.com
 

This memorial was constructed of granite imported from Scotland and the soldier imported from Italy in 1920. Memorial services are held annually in November. Wreaths are laid along with 25 small white crosses, one for each name on the Monument, as well as one at a distance for the unknown soldier. The white crosses are made and presented by Rev. Earl Millson who is a Second World War veteran and minister of the church. Listed on the front of the memorial are the names of those who died in the First World War while the name of those who died in the Second World War are listed on the side.  *Thanks to http://www.veterans.gc.ca/eng/remembrance/memorials/national-inventory-canadian-memorials/details/5289



Marker text:
Front:
CORP. JAMES L. HASTINGS   PRIN. PAT.
PTE. JOHN S. CRERAR  B.A. 133rd NOR. OWN
SGT. GORDON H. STAUFFER   118th BATT.
SGT. WM. A. BROWN   168th BATT.
PTE. JOHN B. WILLSON   1st CAN. DIV. M.M.G.B.
PTE. ALLAN D. HAMACHER   73rd BATT. R.H.G.
PTE. CLIFFORD BROWN   42nd CAN. HIGH.
SGT. FRANK McKIE   1st CAN. L'T. I.M. BAT'Y.
PTE. FRED J. ALLAN   58th BATT.
PTE. ROY C. ELLIS   168th BATT.
CORP. WILLIAM E. HENSON   125th BATT.
PTE. WALTER NEWMAN   168th BATT.
PTE. DAVID G. FOREMAN   4th INF. BATT.
PTE. WILLIAM ROPER   21st BATT.
PTE. OSCAR CHURCH   2nd C.O.R.
PTE GEORGE F. STEEDMAN   168th BATT.
F'T.  L.'T. GEORGE O. MacKENZIE   R.A.F.
PTE. BENJAMIN WRIGHT   71st BATT.
PTE. HAROLD W. MILBURN   75th BATT. CAN.
SGT. DOUGLAS E. BRISTOW   84th BATT.

ERECTED TO THE MEMORY OF
OUR HEROES
1914 - 1918
 




Right side:
PTE. FRED W. VEITCH   51st BATT.
 




 
Left side:
IN
LOVING MEMORY
OF

W/O ROY E. FULCHER
R.C.A.F.

FLT.SGT. JOHN S. RENNICK
R.C.A.F.

W/O NORMAN W. PEAT
R.C.A.F.

PTE. JOHN R. VANCE
LINCOLN & WELLAND REGT.

GREATER LOVE HATH NO MAN

AFGHANISTAN
PTE. TYLER W. WOOD   PPCLI

1939 - 1945