Niagara Falls - Legion Br. 479

 

 Location:  Niagara Region     N 43.09074   W -79.08798

5603 Spring Street, in front of the Legion.

This memorial stands proudly in front of the A.C McCallum Branch 479 of the Royal Canadian Legion.

The following history is taken from the Branch's website:   https://www.rcl479.ca/history

The present location of Branch 479 is steeped in military history

During World War 1, the 176th (Niagara Rangers) Overseas Battalion Canadian Expeditionary Forces lived and trained on the grounds before heading to Europe. When the war ended in 1918 the military buildings were removed and the land was sold to the Niagara Falls School Board.

A public school was built on the site in 1921. Following a contest the name Memorial School was chosen as it honored the Niagara Rangers and other Niagara residents who gave their lives during the war.

Due to declining enrolment, the school was closed in 1981 and the building was sold to the city of Niagara Falls. Subsequently, the property was sold to Branch 479 in 1982 and renovations were begun to transform the building into the Branch we enjoy today.

Founded in May 1948, Branch 479 did not always call Spring Street home. Members previously met at a two-storey hall on North Street and we were originally called the Stamford Legion. It was later renamed the A.C.McCallum Memorial Branch 479 in honor of the well known Niagara veteran who shot down two German planes in combat before he was shot down by the infamous Red Baron.

Branch 479 is proud of its Memorabilia Room. All articles on display have been donated to the Branch. Much of the memorabilia comes from Flanders Fields thanks to a group of volunteer archeologists called The Diggers with the Flanders Fields Museum who work near the famous battle site.

The legion’s original goal was to give assistance to returning veterans and their families and has grown to include a great deal of community service. We conduct branch related activities and sponsor sports leagues as well as providing meeting space for various unions and community groups.

We are currently home to the Royal Canadian Army Cadets 2835 Cadet Corps, the Royal Canadian Naval Association Niagara Region, the British Canadian Veterans Association, the Niagara Memorial Militaires Alumni Drum Corps and The Niagara Regional Police Pipe Band.

 

The memorial is a tall granite shaft bearing the names of those who died in the World Wars.  A beautiful memorial to the heroes of the Great Wars, Niagara Falls is lucky to have such dedicated people to honour and remember the fallen.  The military history of this area dates back to the War of 1812, where nearby battlefields played key roles in the outcome of that early war for our freedom.

 

 

 

 

Marker text:

Front:

TO

OUR

GLORIOUS

DEAD

ALL

PEACEKEEPING

MISSIONS

1914 - 1918

1939 - 1945

1950 - 1953

AFGHANISTAN

LEST WE FORGET

 

 

Right side:

1939 - 1945

 

ADAM, ROBERT C.

BOUTILIER, DOUGLAS

BOUTILIER, WILLIAM

BOWMAN, GEORGE DOUGLAS

BOWMAN, GEORGE E.

CAMPBELL, GEORGE

CHEDORE, K.H.

CHEVERS, WILLIAM

COOPER, GEORGE

COUCH, ALBERT T.

DAVIES, ROBERT E.

DELL, HARLEY J.

DELL, THOMAS E.

EIDT, REGINALD T.

GREEN, ROBERT W.

HEXIMER, HARRY P.

HIGGINS, FRED

HILL, WILLIAM G.

HOLMES, WILLIAM G.

KENNEDY, EARL G.

MACDONALD, ALEX

MARTIN, W.S.

McCOURTIE, GEORGE A.M.

McLEOD, RALPH E.

McPHERSON, M.A.

MOLNAR, JOSEPH

MUNROE, JAMES HENRY

MULHOLLAND, JAMES

 

 

 

Back:

1914 - 1918

 

AKRIGG, RUSSELL

ARROWSMITH, ERNEST

BARNETT, KENNETH D.

BOLGER, VICTOR E.J.

BOND, ROY

BYRNE, THOMAS

CAMPBELL, FRANK

EDE, ALBERT

EVELEIGH, FRANK

FORSYTHE, MONTIE

FRENCH, F.

GALLINGER, KENNETH

JONES, GILLIAM

KENNEDY, GUY

LOCKYEAR, WILFRED

LOWE, FRED

OHOU, JOSEPH

POWELL, LESLIE

POWLEY, FRED

STARR, REUBEN

WHYBRA, HAROLD

WHYBRA, WILLIAM

WILLINS, HENRY

RUPERT, K. STARR

 

 

 

 

Left side:

1939 - 1945

 

MULHERN, PETER

MURRAY, ELDEN R.

NEWTON, LLEWELLYN C.

PENLEY, WALTER

PERROTTI, FRANK

POTENZA, THOMAS

REID, STANLEY

RILEY, HENRY

SABO, ANDREW

SHRINER, CHARLES

SMITH, HAROLD

SMITH, KENNETH DOUGLAS

SNYDER, CLARENCE

SOLOSE, JOHN J.

STAATS, JAMES

STALEY, JOSEPH S.

STAROSTIC, W.

STEVENS, ALBERT

THOMPSON, GEORGE S.

THORNE, WILLIAM A.

UPPER, BEDFORD

WALKER, JAMES D.

WEST, HERMAN

WHITE, WILLIAM G.

WHITTY, JACK W.

WING, ROBERT

WOOLNOUGH, CLIFFORD E.

YOUNG, ROBERT ALLEN