Orangeville - Forest Lawn Cemetery

 

Location:  Dufferin County     N 43.93480   W -80.09764

At the end of Cemetery Road, just inside the entrance to Forest Lawn Cemetery, keep to the right.

 

This memorial, found inside Forest Lawn Cemetery is an updated monument to honour those buried in the cemetery's Veteran's Plot.  The grey granite stone recognizes the major conflicts of Canada's history, and pays tribute to the common branches of the Canadian Forces and also the Legion.  Three side of the new memorial are identically decorated with symbols and text.  The original stone lies mounted in front of the attractive new memorial, all surrounded by graves and markers of those who proudly served their country.   

Marker text:

New memorial:

(Legion crest)

WWI     1914 - 1918

WWII     1939 - 1945

KOREA     1950 - 1953

AFGHANISTAN     2002 - 2014

LEST WE FORGET

THEIR NAME LIVETH

FOR EVERMORE

VETERANS PLOT

 

Old memorial stone:

1914-1918     1939-1945

(Old Legion crest)

TO PERPETUATE

THE MEMORY OF

VETERANS

WHO REST

IN THIS PLOT

ERECTED BY

ORANGEVILLE BRANCH

NO. 233

CANADIAN LEGION - 1946

Toronto - Sons of England Memorial

 

Location:  City of Toronto    N 43.65617   N -79.38889

In the middle of University Avenue at Elm Street.

This memorial was erected in 1923 by the Toronto District of the Sons of England Benefit Society.  The memorial was designed by Charles Adamson, who was born in Scotland in 1880 and proudly served in the Canadian Expeditionary Force during the Great War of 1914 - 1918.  The memorial depicts a bronze statue on top of a granite shaft that lists the names of the men from the Sons of England Society who died in the Great War.  The monument is flanked by three lions, a symbol of England.  A truly stunning memorial to those who gave all for King and Country.

 

Marker text:

ERECTED BY MEMBERS OF TORONTO DISTRICTS

SONS OF ENGLAND BENEFIT SOCIETY

IN MEMORY OF THOSE WHO FELL IN THE GREAT WAR

S.O.E. MEMBERS KILLED IN THE GREAT WAR

ATTFIELD. W.

ALLEN. J.

ARNOLD. W.E.

APPLETON. W.C.

AVIS. C.J.

ASHDOWN. A.H.

ARCHIBALD. H.

AISHFORD. H.P.

BROWN. W.A.

BUSH. J.

BLISS. T.W.

BELL. J.H.

BREWSTER. O.

BENNINGTON. H.A.

BRYAN. A.

BROCK. A.W.

BUCK. E.

BURT. C.E.

BRADLEY. F.T.

BOULTON. T.

BOYCE. W.H.

BELL. W.J.

BENNETT. W.G.

BARNARD. C.H.

BEARNE. F.

BEWLEY. S.C.

BALL. G.F.

BROWN. J.

BALLINGER. C.

BLENKIN. J.?.

BLENKHORN. W.

BUTCHER. A.

BRADBURY. L.B.

BROWN. H.J.

BOORMAN. J.R.

BIRCH. E.A.

BRIGGS. T.H.

BURCHELL. J.

BURLINGTON. J.T.

CANNON. E.H.

CUSS. A.G.

CASS. P.

COOMBES. A.J.

COOPER. E.

CLEMENTS. J.H.

COOK. G.

CHAMP. F.C.

COKES. E.R.

CARTER. C.D.

CRABTREE. E.

CLIFFORD. W.

COLLINS. F.W.

CURRELL. W.G.

CORNISH. A.

COLEMAN. A.

 

CHAPMAN. G.

COE. C.M.

DICKENS. H.

DOBELL. F.N.

DAVIS. G.W.

DAWE. W.C.

DAWSON. A.W.

DAVENPORT. H.

DAWSON. C.R.O.

DEACON. J.E.

DRURY. L.

DRIVER. J.W.

DAWSON. H.

DOUGLAS. C.

DARBY. E.P.

ELFORD. S.

EVESON. F.T.

EVENDEN. J.T.

EDGSON. A.G.

EARL. T.C.

FLETCHER. A.J.

FIELDING. T.

FALKNER. A.C.

FISHER. J.H.

FROST. F.W.

FARTHING. A.O.

FIELD. A.T.

FORSDIKE. F.

FREEMAN. D.

FISHER. G.

FLETCHER. F.

FRANCIS. G.E.

FAULTLESS. W.E.

FRANCE. L.F.

GRIFFIN. N.J.

GREEN. E.

CRIDLEY. W.E.

GRIFFITHS. W.J.

GLOVER. A.

GRAY. C.R.

GOFF. F.

GREEN W.C.

GIDDINGS. J.

GATENBY. W.

GAZEY. F.H.R.

GREETHA. F.

GARBUTT. P.

HOWE. W.J.

HUGHES. C.

HOOKER. A.E.

HICKS. O.A.

HIGGINS. A.W.

HERRON. T.A.

HARRISON. C.S.

 

HURLEY. C.W.

HEWITT. J.W.

HAINES. C.

HEWARD. A.

HOTLEY, E.W.

HART. W.H.R.

HOPPER. J.F.

HILBERT. T.

HUNT. A.H.

HOCKEN. F.H.

HOWARTH. E.J.

HOWARTH. A.

HYDE. H.

INESON. D.

JENNINGS. W.

JOHNS. E.

JONES. T.

JONES. W.

JENKINSON. T.

KENSETT. S.H.

KENSETT. J.C.

LITCHFIELD. D.R.C.

LITCHFIELD. T.W.

LEWIS. A.C.

LING. A.

MURCOTT. A.

MIDDLETON. I.W.

MILLER.H.W.

MILLS. T.

MARSDEN. J.

MOSES. W.H.

McLEAN.  C.J.

McLEARLY. W.

NEWMAN. P.

NEVILLE. A.T.

PETERS. H.

PAYNE. C.F.

PRITCHARD. V.A.

PENTON. J.

PEARCE. R.J.

PETTITT. M.W.

POLE. A.L.

PARKER. H.

PRIOR. A.H.

PARAMORE. W.

PERCIVAL. W.

PINKETT. C.J.

PITTAM. F.H.

PARKER. C.C.

ROGERS. J.

ROSE. P.

RATCLIFFE. G.A.

RATCLIFFE. W.H.

RAWLINSON. W.A.

READ. J.H.

ROWLEY. J.

RITCHARDSON. ?.

SHEPPARD. R.

SUMMERSIDES. J.

SPEDDING. J.W.

SAUNDERS. F.

STEPHENS. W.

SANDS. A.

SCOTT. T.

SUMMERS. H.J.

STEPHEN. C.A.

STOLLARD. H. 

SUMISON. F.

STEADMAN. H.

STANNAC. E.D.?

SKIPPES. J.A.

SANDERSON. J.

SMITH. A.

SANGSTER. F.

SEWELL. F.E.J.

TICKNER. M.

TRIPP. W.S.J.

THORN. H.

TAYLOR. H.

TAYLOR. W.T.

TRACHY. C.H.

TAYLOR. J.A.

TOMPSETT. F.

TYLER. W.A.

TELFORD. W.C.

VEATER. L.T.

WOOD. W.W.

WOOD. H.C.

WILCOX. P.

WHITE. E.O.

WARD. W.H.

WARD. R.F.H.

WEEKS. J.C.

WOODCOCK. F.

WISE. H.

WILLETT. E.

WEBB. J.H.

WELLS. W.H.

WATSON. F.H.

WATKINS. F.W.

WRIGHT. R.

WELLS. A.S.

WALKER. H.J.

WRIGHT. H.

WORSLEY. R.

WARDLE. F.W.

YOUNG. R.J.

YOUNG. J.E.W.

 

JUVENILE MEMBERS

BUTTIVANT. J.E.

GAGE. G.

KITCHEN. J.J.

ROWSELL. R.R.W.

WHITE. W.

 

THEIR NAME LIVETH FOR EVERMORE

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cobourg - Fern Blodgett Sunde

Location:  Northumberland County     N 43.95782   W -78.15924

Near the east side of Victoria Park, between Bay Street and the beach.

This memorial, entitled "Make Waves", was unveiled in 2020, as part of the 75th Anniversary of the Battle of the Atlantic.  It is dedicated to honour the memory of Fern Blodgett Sunde, please read more to learn about her fascinating story.  The following description is taken from the website of the Government of Canada Battle of the Atlantic Heroes series.  I have also used a couple of their photos for clarity, as mine where of poor quality due to the sunshine and time of day.

Battle of the Atlantic Heroes: Fern Blodgett Sunde

Battle of the Atlantic Heroes / November 19, 2020

"In 1941, during the Battle of the Atlantic, the Admiralty sent a secret letter to The Norwegian Shipping Mission expressing appreciation for the outstanding services rendered to the Allied cause by three Norwegian cargo ships. The letter praised the ships’ radio operators for the “exemplary manner” in which they followed route instructions and diversions designed to keep the merchant ships out of danger. Though not expressly stated in the letter from the Admiralty, German warships and U-boats were the primary danger.

The Mosdale, one of the ships praised, did in fact have a remarkable radio operator. Her name was Fern Blodgett, a young Canadian who was the first woman ever to serve deep sea as a wireless radio operator, also known as a “Sparks”.

Fern grew up in Cobourg, Ont., dreaming of sailing the high seas, even though she knew that ships at the time were not for girls. When the Second World War broke out, she was determined to serve Canada. Although some radio schools were reluctant to train women, she persisted and became the first Canadian woman to earn a Second Class Wireless Operator’s certificate.

Answering an urgent call for an operator, she made her way to Montreal. Gerner Sunde, the young Norwegian captain of the Mosdale - and Fern’s future husband - was shocked to see that his applicant was a woman. At the time, neither Canada nor Britain permitted women to work aboard naval and merchant ships at sea, but luckily Norway had no rule against it. The next thing Fern knew, she was a kriegsseiler – a war sailor – the only woman aboard the Mosdale, the only operator in the small radio room where equipment instructions were in languages she didn’t know, knowing a mistake on her part could send the ship into catastrophe, and where she became horribly seasick.

No one expected her to make that initial return voyage, but with great courage, resilience, and devotion to duty, Fern kept a bucket by her side, and sailed with the Mosdale for 78 of its recorded 96 transatlantic voyages. It was incredibly dangerous work – the sea was home to U-boats, mined waters, surface raiders, fog and terrifying storms. During the early years of the Battle of the Atlantic, ships were going down faster than they could be replaced. Norway’s British-controlled merchant ships, such as the Mosdale, were special targets.

When Germany invaded Norway and ordered the fleet back to German-occupied ports, not a single ship obeyed. In service of the Allied cause, Norway’s tankers and merchant ships made a significant contribution, but paid a high price. Norway had lost over half its fleet by the end of the war. Along with thousands of Canadians and Allies, Fern did her part during the Battle of the Atlantic to keep Allied forces provisioned. In 1943, King Haakon VII of Norway awarded Fern Blodgett Sunde the Norwegian War Medal – the first woman ever to receive the honour.

Fern served until the end of the war, and from time to time in its aftermath. In 1952, she left the sea to raise her two daughters, Fern and Solveig Ann, and to work in the garden she loved. Fern stayed in Norway after Gerner’s death in 1962. She never remarried.

Fern Blodgett Sunde opened the door to a sisterhood of Sparks, mostly Canadian and Scandinavian women. They followed her to sea, working on Norwegian merchant ships until technology replaced the wireless radio.

Of the ships mentioned in the Admiralty’s 1941 letter of praise, only the Mosdale survived the war.

In recognition of Fern’s contributions not only to the war effort but as a trailblazer for the women who followed her lead, a life-sized bronze monument titled “Make Waves” was created by Tyler Fauvelle, a professional sculptor based in Northern Ontario. The monument was unveiled at an event in Cobourg on October 17, 2020.

“The monument’s wave symbolizes the wave of social changes which came for Canadian women in the storm of war. It also evokes radio waves, as well as the waves of the sea as battlefield,” explained the piece’s creator, Mr. Fauvelle.

“[Fern is] stepping forward, with one foot emerging from the wave, but she’s also looking back. Forward is her persistence in breaking barriers, looking back is for remembrance.”

The artist also drew attention to the relief sculpted inside the wave, which alludes to Canada’s important role in the Battle. Included are depictions of the SS Athenia, the Canso amphibious aircraft, Hawker Hurricanes, Her Majesty’s Canadian Ship (HMCS) Waskesiu and HMCS Cobourg. He also lightly outlined U-boats at the horizon, to illustrate the danger that cost thousands upon thousands of Allied lives. “It was a privilege to create this lasting tribute to Canadians of a monumental generation, the men and women who fought and supported a necessary war,” said Mr. Fauvelle.

“Thousands didn’t live to see the peace that their sacrifice bought, and they were on my mind as I sculpted the clay.”2020 marks the 75^th anniversary of the end of the Second World War and the end of the Battle of the Atlantic, and October was Women’s History Month in Canada.

With these dates in mind, a volunteer citizens’ committee, led by Dr. Leona Woods and Honourary Colonel Helen Vari, along with their community partner, the Cobourg Museum Foundation commissioned the ‘Make Waves’ monument.

The monument was funded in part by the Government of Canada through the Veterans Affairs Canada Commemorative Partnership Program. Charitable foundations, local businesses and individuals, as well as the Town of Cobourg, also made financial and in-kind contributions to the commemoration."

 https://www.canada.ca/en/navy/corporate/history-heritage/battle-atlantic/heroes/fern-blodgett-sunde.html

 

 

Cambridge - McIntosh Armoury

 

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.

LAV Plaque:

In recognition and memory of the efforts approximately

40,000 Canadian Armed Forces personnel who served and

the 162 Canadians who died in the cause of bringing peace

and freedom to the people of Afghanistan.

2001     2014