Ontario War Memorials: Cambridge

Location: Waterloo Region N 43.35800 W -80.31343

At the corner of Ainslie Street S and Valour Place.

The Armoury in Cambridge is situated in the city’s downtown area. The large brick and stone structure projects a solid, fortified appearance. The façade features flanking towers, crenelated turrets and a large, stone-framed central troop door. It was constructed during the time of the First World War, from 1914-1915.

The Armoury is associated with the development of Canada’s militia and makes a significant contribution to the city. The building is the home of the Highland Fusiliers of Canada, successor to the 29th Waterloo Infantry Battalion, formed in 1866 later known as the Highland Light Infantry of Canada. It is constructed in a Tudor-influenced style with fortress-like detailing executed in stone and brick. The large, functional space of the main drill hall is made possible by the ability of the truss system to span a wide area. Distinguished by its good craftsmanship and functional design, the armoury also contains offices, stores and other facilities. A plaque on the wall indicates the name of the building is the McIntosh Armoury, but it is also known as the Mill Street Armoury on recent maps.

Outside the armoury, on the front garden are three historical plaques dedicated to local men who were awarded the Victoria Cross during the First World War. In 2016, a LAV4 armoured vehicle was placed in front of the building to commemorate the mission in Afghanistan. A black marble stone stands in front of the LAV to give praise to the individuals and organizations who sponsored the vehicle memorial.

Marker text:

Armoury plaque:

McINTOSH AMOURY

COL J.A. McINTOSH, DSO, ED

Born Galt, Ontario 10 December 1885

Commissioned in 29 Waterloo Regiment of Infantry - 1912

Volunteered for overseas service in the Great War with 18th Battalion

CEF - 1914

Twice wounded, twice Mentioned in Dispatches for bravery

Awarded the Distinguished Service Order (DSO) at the Battle of

Courselette - 1918

Mobilized the Highland Light Infantry of Canada for Service in 1940 and

led them overseas to England

Promoted to Full Colonel, he returned to Canada to command Military

Districts 2 and 10 as well as the Camp Borden Training Complex

Except for Wartime service Colonel McIntosh served as Postmaster for

Galt from 1919 until retirement in 1951. He served two terms of City

Council and was head of the Civil Defence Organization for eight years.

He passed away in Galt on 07 September 1970 at age 85

"ONE OF CANADA'S CITIZEN SOLDIERS"

SERGEANT FREDERICK HOBSON, VC

1873 - 1917

An Englishman, Frederick Hobson emigrated to Canada in

1904 after serving in the South African War. Eight years

later, he moved to Galt (now Cambridge) with his family.

When war broke out in 1914, he joined the Norfolk Rifles,

then enlisted with the 20th Battalion of the Canadian

Expeditionary Force. He was awarded a posthumous Victoria

Cross for his heroic action at Hill 70 near Lens, France on

August 18, 1917. During an intense German counter-attack,

Hobson rushed from is trench, reactivated a buried Lewis

gun, and engaged the advancing enemy single-handed. When

the gun jammed, the wounded Hobson fought with bayonet

and rifle until he was shot. In the time gained reinforcements

approached to drive the enemy back.

Ontario Heritage Foundation, an agency of the Government of Ontario

LIEUTENANT SAMUEL LEWIS HONEY, VC, DCM, MM

SAMUEL HONEY WAS BORN IN CONN, WELLINGTON COUNTY ON FEBRUARY 9, 1894.

A SCHOOL TEACHER AT 1, HE ENLISTED ON JANUARY 25, 1915, IN THE 34TH BATTALION,

CEF BEING RAISED IN GALT, AND WENT TO ENGLAND AS A SERGEANT IN OCTOBER, 1915. IN FRANCE, HE WON THE MILITARY MEDAL IN JANUARY, 1917 AND WAS AWARDED THE DISTINGUISHED CONDUCT MEDAL FOR GALLANT LEADERSHIP IN APRIL 1917. AFTER COMPLETING OFFICER TRAINING, HE RETURNED TO HIS UNIT IN FRANCE AND WON THE VICTORIA CROSS AT BOURLON WOOD ON SEPTEMBER 27, 1918.

WITH ALL OTHER OFFICERS KILLED OR WOUNDED, HE TOOK COMMAND OF HIS COMPANY AND SINGLE-HANDED RUSHED AND CAPTURED A MACHINE-GUN POST AND TEN PRISONERS. HE DIED OF WOUNDS ON SEPTEMBER 29, 1918, AND IS BURIED AT QUEANT CEMETERY, FRANCE.

ERECTED BY THE HIGHLAND FUSILIERS OF CANADA WITH THE SUPPORT OF THE CITIZENS OF THE CITY OF CAMBRIDGE AND THE ONTARIO HERITAGE FOUNDATION. LIEUTENANT HONEY IS HONOURED BY A PROVINCIAL PLAQUE AT CONN.

CAPTAIN GEORGE FRASER KERR, VC, MC AND BAR, MM

BORN AT DESERONTO ON JUNE 8, 1894, HE ATTENDED GALT COLLEGIATE FROM 1908 TO 1913 AND JOINED THE 3RD BATTALION, C.E.F. IN 1914, GOING THE FRANCE IN 1915. AS A CORPORAL, HE WON THE MILITARY MEDAL AT MONT SORREL IN JUNE 1916. RECOVERING FROM HIS WOUNDS IN ENGLAND, HE WAS APPOINTED A LIEUTENANT AND RETURNED TO HIS UNIT IN JULY 1917. HE WON THE MILITARY CROSS AT AMIENS IN AUGUST 1918, AND A SECOND MC AT BOURLON WOOD WHEN NOT FULLY RECOVERED FROM EARLIER WOUNDS. ON SEPTEMBER 27, 1918, HE WON THE VICTORIA CROSS AT BOURLON WOOD WHEN HE RUSHED A STRONGHOLD AND SINGLE-HANDED CAPTURED FOUR MACHINE GUNS AND 31 PRISONERS. IN CANADA, HE CONTINUED WITH MILITIA SERVICE AND A BUSINESS CAREER IN TORONTO, WHERE HE DIED ON DECEMBER 8, 1929 AND WAS BURIED WITH FULL MILITARY HONOURS IN MOUNT PLEASANT CEMETERY.

ERECTED BY THE HIGHLAND FUSILIERS OF CANADA WITH THE SUPPORT OF THE CITIZENS OF THE CITY OF THE CITY OF CAMBRIDGE AND THE ONTARIO HERITAGE FOUNDATION. CAPTAIN KERR IS HONOURED WITH A PROVINCIAL PLAQUE AT DESERONTO.