Saturday 19 September 2015

Verner




Location:  Nipissing District   N 46 24.654  W 80 07.370
On the east side of Route 64, south of Highway 17, beside the library.
 

Verner was established in 1894, as a farming community on the north shore of Lake Nipissing.  Due to the the close proximity to the lake, it is also a destination for sport fishermen and adventurers.  Most of the residents are of Francophone decent and strongly proud of their heritage.
A large part of the heritage is the Remembrance of those from this region who served and where lost in the service of their country.
The Memorial Park is a fine tribute to the men of Verner, especially those who where lost in the World Wars.
Central to the  memorial is a large artillery piece and a row of flagpoles, flying the flags of each province.  To each side of the landscaped walkway are stones decorated with the names of the men from Verner who died at war.  This is a fine tribute from a small village, to honour its heroes of the past.



Marker text:
Cannon plaque:
DEDIER AUX RESIDENTS
DE VERNER QUI ONT
FIERMENT SERVI

1914 - 1918  WWI
1939 - 1945  WWII
1950 - 1953  COREE KOREA

DEDICATED TO THE
RESIDENTS OF VERNER
WHO PROUDLY SERVED
 



 
Left stone:
WORLD WAR I

PRIVATE GAUTHIER, ZOTIQUE
Royal Canadian Infantry Corps
3rd Battalion Infantry Brigade
Died:  September 20th, 1917

PRIVATE GRAHAM, JOHN H.
25th Canadian Infantry Battalion
Nova Scotia Regiment
Died:  November 5th, 1917
 




Right stone:
WORLD WAR II

PRIVATE LAVALLEE, ROGER R.
First Canadian Special
Service Battalion
Died:  June 2nd, 1944

PRIVATE AUBIN, LUCIEN
20ieme Regiment Canadien
de Maisonneuve
Died:  February 28th, 1945
 











Saturday 12 September 2015

Arnprior

 

Location:  Renfrew County  N 45 26.464  W 76 21.144
On the west side of John Street N, in front of the hospital.
 

This article is copied from www.insideottawavalley.com website, recounting a newspaper article from the Arprior Chronicle Guide, November8, 2012, marking the 60th Anniversary of the Arnprior Cenotaph.
Arnprior Chronicle-Guide
It was B. V. Bedore who first wrote about the need for a cenotaph in a guest editorial published in the Nov. 29, 1951 Arnprior Chronicle.
Bernie Bedore, who had served in the Royal Navy Fleet Air Arm during World War II, pointed out that Pembroke and Renfrew had already erected a memorial to the fallen where veterans could properly honour their comrades on Remembrance Day.
Lest We Forget
He lamented that "perhaps next year Arnprior will have her cenotaph, her symbol of remembrance which will say to her citizens and all who pass, 'Lest We Forget'."
The idea must have resonated with many people in the town, as only two months later the Arnprior Chronicle reported that "definite action toward the establishment of a Memorial Monument for Arnprior and District men who gave their lives in two world wars has been taken by the Arnprior Branch of the Canadian Legion."
A committee led by J. J. Greene D.F.C. soon got to work with the help of Mayor Robert Simpson and reeves of the surrounding townships.
Discussion as to what type of monument, the cost and the most suitable location took place around town and an extensive door-to-door fundraising campaign was undertaken by the committee members.
Representing World War II were Ian Malloch, Orme Belvins, Howard Patterson, and Gerald Stokes.
World War I representatives consisted of J. Clarence Irving, Harold Short and Dr. J. H. Box. Other members were J. A. Gillies O.B.E., J. C. Metcalf, James Cherry, J.W.C. Tierney, F. R. Convey, and Stewart Carmichael.
Support plentiful
Support for this community project was widespread and immediate. By May of 1952 over $1,000 had been raised by canvassing organizations such as the local Women's Institutes and private citizens.
A Tag Day held in conjunction with the annual regatta raised over $400 in donations for the Cenotaph Fund.
Most debate around the new cenotaph centred around where it should be located. Many people wanted it in the park, while others felt it should be situated at Town Hall or on other property owned by the Town.
There was also discussion about whether we needed a cenotaph at all. Some people felt that the Arnprior and District Memorial Hospital had already been built as a memorial for the same purpose.
Chairman J. J. Greene acknowledged that the hospital had been financed by contributions of a memorial nature but pointed out that the new cenotaph would be a suitable place of remembrance and worship for Remembrance Day services.
Stores in Arnprior closed from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 11, 1952, so that all staff could attend the first memorial service at the new Arnprior and District Cenotaph located in front of the Arnprior and District Memorial Hospital.
A large parade formed up at the Legion Hall on Daniel Street where the Ladies Auxiliary of the Legion, Arnprior Boy Scouts and Cubs, Girl Guides and Brownies, and the Royal Canadian Legion band marched along with the veterans to the new cenotaph where Remembrance Day services were held.
This was a proud occasion for the Arnprior Legion Branch 174 and all those who had contributed to the erection of the cenotaph as a symbol and testament of sacrifice of the men whose names were inscribed upon it.
The cenotaph was completed only one week before the ceremony.
140 NAMES
The grey, limestone structure contained the names of 60 Arnprior and District men who died in World War I and 80 men who died in World War II.
In July 1953, a special unveiling ceremony took place to officially dedicate the memorial.
The Arnprior Legion formed a committee to repair and update the cenotaph in 1998. A large crack in the base of the monument was fixed and a new granite slab was installed over the deteriorated limestone face.
Volunteers from the Arnprior & District Archives (later the Arnprior McNab-Braeside Archives) worked with the Legion to carry out historical research associated with updating the cenotaph by adding names previously missed.
Today, the cenotaph remains the historic gathering place for this community to come together each year to honour those who died in World War I, World War II and the Korean conflict"


 
Marker text:
Front:
WORLD WAR I
1914 - 1918

ADRAIN, ROBERT
AFFLECK, RAYMOND
AFFLECK, ROBERT
ANDERSON, FORREST
BANNING, CHARLES
BARCLAY, CHARLES
BRAY, FRED
BRENNAN, PETER
BRIDGEN, EARNEST
BURT, ROBERT
CARTWRIGHT, HAMILTON
CHAMBERLAND, JOSEF
CHAMBLEAU, EMILE
CHARBONNEAU, MILTON
CLARK, STANTON
CRAIG, W.
CUNNINGHAM, JOHN
DAVIDSON, WILFRED
DAZE, WILFRED
DEROCHIE, GEORGE
DEWAR, DOUGLAS
DUFF, JAMES
DUPUIS, FRANK
EMERSON, ALBERT
FENNEL, HAROLD
GALLOWAY, J.A.
GEE, GEORGE
GEMMELL, EDWARD
GRANT, HERBERT
HAGARTY, THOMAS
HARPER, STANLEY
HASTINGS, JOHN
HOOD, CHARLES
JANDREW, PHILIP
KEDEY, WILLIAM
LAMBERT, WILLIAM
LAVALLEE, CELESTA
LEARMONTH, REID
LEWIS, NORMAN

LYTLE, GORDON
McCORMICK, FRED
McGREGOR, STEWART
McGREGOR, WILLIAM
McLACHLIN, EWAN
McLAUGHLIN, GEORGE
McLEOD, DONALD
McNAB, JOHN
MEEK, WILLIAM
MONTGOMERY, WILLIAM
MOORS, CHARLES
MOREAU, BERT
MOSLEY, JOHN
MURPHY, JOHN
NEWMAN, LEO
NICHOLSON, GEORGE
PRICE, CHARLES
PYE, DAVID
REYNOLDS, HOWARD
RING, ALEXANDER
ROBERTSON, JOHN
ROBERTSON, JAMES
SAMPLE, THOMAS
SAMWELL, MORRIS
SHAW, ROBERT
STANTON, CLARKE
STANZEL, HOWARD
STEVENS, CLEMENT
STEVENS, GEORGE
STYLES, ALBERT
SUTHERLAND, LORNE
THOMPSON, FRED
TIERNEY, JOHN
TOUGH, GORDON
TROWSSE, ROBERT
WILKIE, GEORGE
WILSON, ALBERT
WISHART, WALLACE

TO KEEP FOREVER LIVING
THE FREEDOM FOR WHICH THEY DIED
 


 
Back:
WORLD WAR II
1939 - 1945

BAKER, JOSEPH, 
BAKER, THOMAS
BARNES, ARTHUR
BARR, HAROLD
BEDORE, GLEN
BRADFORD, JOHN
BRYDGES, WALTER
BYRNE, JACK
CAMPBELL, ANDREW
CARMICHAEL, ALEXANDER
CARTWRIGHT, GEORGE
CHABOT, LEONARD
CONVEY, LEO
COUVIEAU, LEO
CRAIG, KENNETH
CRANSTON, JAMES
DAZE, CLETUS
DILLON, JOHN
DUPUIS, KEITH
ERNST, LLOYD
FARRELL, CORKERY
FETHERSTON, WILLIAM
FRASER, LORNE
GALLIGAN, FRANCIS
GOOD, WILFRID
GOODWIN, DONALD
GREELY, DESMOND
GUEST, ALLAN
HARDING, ANDREW
HASTINGS, EDWARD
HOGAN, NELSON
HUBBELL, GEORGE
JAMIESON, JOHN
JENSEN, CARLO
JOHNSTON, GLEN
KELLY, KENNETH
KIPPEN, RAY
KOPETOSKE, EMERSON
LANGMAN, ALBERT
LAUGHEED, KEITH
LAVENTURE, HAROLD
LEDOUX. EARL

LOWRY, MERVYN
MacINTYRE, GORDON
McBRIDE, MONA
McKERRACHER, HUGH
McMANUS, FRANCIS
McMULLEN, CECIL
McVEAN, BASIL
MAY, CHRISTOPHER
MAY, STORIE
MILDON, ALBERT
MILLAR, WILLIAM
MONTGOMERY, ELDON
MOORHOUSE, KENNETH
MORGAN, BRUCE
MORGAN, WILLIAM
MOSLEY, IVAN
MOSLEY, THOMAS
MUNRO, JAMES
NEUMANN, ELMER
O'BRIEN, CLARENCE
O'NEILL, FRANK
PARKER, KENNETH
PHILLIPS, ARTHUR
POOLE, BASIL
ROBINSON, JOHN
SADLER, ROY
SCHNOB, EUGENE
SHANNON, GEORGE
SLIEVERT, KENNETH
SLIEVERT, MANSEL
SMITH, HARVEY
STAVENOW, EDGAR
STAVENOW, LEONARD
STEVENSON, ROBERT
STYLES, JACK
TAYLOR, GLENWOOD
THOMSON, WALTER
THOMLINSON, McLEOD
WALL, RAYMOND
WARDEN, CLIFFORD
WHYTE, SIDNEY
YADE, JOHN

KOREA
1950 - 1953

TRUDEAU, DESMOND

LEST WE FORGET
 






 


Wednesday 9 September 2015

Hagersville

 

Location:  Haldimand County   N 42 57.566  W 80 03.134
In the park on Alma Street S, near the corner of Church Street.
 

This memorial was originally established after the First World War, with later plaques added to commemorate those lost in the Second World War and Korea.  This section of the park is now known as the Memorial Arboretum, but was once home to Hagersville Public School, which was located directly beside this memorial.  I have included a photo of a postcard which shows the cenotaph beside the beautiful old school.
The memorial itself has an eternal light on the top of the stone, to remind of us our promise to never forget the sacrifice of those who gave their lives for our freedom.  The Royal Canadian Legion Branch 164 looks after the cenotaph and ensuring that the words Lest We Forget are not forgotten.



Marker text:
Top plaque:
KOREAN WAR
1950 - 1953

Second plaque:
IN MEMORY
OF THOSE WHO DIED

LORNE BARLOW
ALVIN FISHER
PERCY GILES
DAVID GOOSEY
PETER GROAT
PERCY HALL
CHARLES HARROP
EDWARD HEWITT
FRED HEWITT
PETER M. LAIDLAW
GEORGE MIKE
GEORGE MORTIMER

HARRY MOSS
ALBERT PARIS
HORACE PEGG
WALTER RADCLIFFE
EARL REID
JAMES RICHARDS
BRUCE ROBERTSON
CRAIG ROULSTON
JAMES SAGE
FRANK SPELLER
MACK TOBICOE
CHARLES WINKWORTH
E.T. KELLY

AND SERVED IN THE GREAT WAR
1914 - 1918
 



Third plaque:
1939     1945
THOSE WHO PAID
THE SUPREME SACRIFICE

BERTRAN ROSS H.
BOWMAN CLARE E.
BRANT JACOB S.
EUBANK FREDERICK H.
GORAK THEODORE
GORDON BRUCE M.
GORDON RICHARD L.
HENRY JOSEPH E.
HENRY NORMAN W.

KING MAXWELL J.
LaFORME LAWRENCE A.
MITCHELL WILLIAM F.
MONTOUR WILLIAM E.
MUMFORD LEONARD K.
REBBETOY JAMES R.
SOMMERVILLE NEIL R.
VERI DANIEL A.
WATKINS BRAM W.
WRIGHT HERBERT H.

Lower plaque:
R.C.L. BR. 164

LEST WE FORGET



Tuesday 1 September 2015

Fort Willow

 

Location:  Simcoe County   N 44° 23.706 W 079° 49.290
On the west side of Grenfel Road, south of Portage Trail, in the conservation area.
 



During the War of 1812, the Nine Mile Portage from Kempenfelt Bay to Willow Creek formed part of the vital route, via Yonge Street, Lake Simcoe, the Nottawasaga River and Georgian Bay which linked Upper Canada with the British posts on the upper Great Lakes. Here, beside the Minesing Swamp and 2 km from the landing on Willow Creek, were stored the hundreds of tonnes of military supplies and trade goods that maintained the western posts during 1814-15 and the years immediately following. The depot ultimately included some eight log structures built by the military authorities or fur trading companies, and was surrounded by a palisade measuring roughly 85 by 58 metres.  *from Ontario Historical Plaque.
 

In September of 2014, a memorial was erected to honour the Royal Newfoundland Regiment of Fencible Infantry, who were stationed at this supply fort, built 29 batteaux boats, and re-supplied other British posts as far as Fort Michilimackinac near Sault Ste. Marie.  The Newfoundlanders played a key role in the defence and supply of the North-West during the duration of the War of 1812.   It is said that many famous military men and even explorer Sir John Franklin passed through this small depot.
 

Today, Fort Willow is part of a conservation area.  People are welcome to hike along the trails, see the re-built palisades, read about the various buildings and facilities that are found here.  An effort has been made to re-construct the fort and educate youth with various programs.  Occasionally re-enactments are held to commemorate the depot, and those that where stationed here.



Marker text:
(ROYAL NEWFOUNDLAND REGIMENT crest)

Dedicated to

the men of
the Royal Newfoundland
Regiment of Fencible Infantry

In early 1814, 200 men of the Regiment marched from
Kingston, via York, along Nine Mile Portage to this place.

Here they built 29 batteauxwhich they took down the
Nottawasaga River and across Georgian Bay to
Michilimackinac with 30 tons of desperately needed
supplies for the British garrison there.

This heroic journey ensured British control of the North West
for the rest of the War of 1812

September 2014