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
 

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

 

 

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

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