Niagara-on-the-Lake RCL BR. #124

Location:  Niagara Region   N 43 15.007  W 79 04.490
On King Street, east of Mary Street.
 

This memorial sits in front of the Royal Canadian Legion, General C. Nelles Branch #124.  The stone cairn was dedicated in September of 1985, in time for the sixtieth anniversary of this branch.  The Legion is located in one of the most historically significant areas of our country, for it was nearby here that battles where fought in the War of 1812, and the famous Butler's Barracks training area where soldiers have trained for the World Wars and every other conflict before that.  After the Second World War, the area was made into a historical park and this land was donated to the local Legion.
The cairn features a metal plaque with the names of men from this area who sacrificed their lives in the World Wars.  Sadly the metal used in the plaque is corroding quickly, rendering some of the names difficult to decipher.  The plaque also gives the story of the historical importance of this land.  Well worth the visit for anyone coming to the Niagara Region.  The Lincoln and Welland Regiment also has their museum nearby, which sadly was not open during the time of my visit, but I shall return.
 



Marker text:
GENERAL NELLES
BRANCH 124

THIS CAIRN IS DEDICATED TO OUR
FALLEN COMRADES AND CONTAINS
THE NAMES OF THE MEN OF THE
TOWN OF NIAGARA AND AREA
WHO GAVE THEIR LIVES IN WORLD
WAR I AND WORLD WAR II.  IT IS
ERECTED ON THE HISTORICAL GROUNDS
WHERE CANADA TRAINED HER MEN
IN TIMES OF WAR DATING FROM THE
PERIOD OF BUTLERS RANGERS TO
THE END OF WORLD WAR II.  MEN
TRAINED ON THIS SITE AND FOUGHT IN
ALL WARS IN WHICH CANADA PARTIC-
IPATED.  AFTER WORLD WAR II THE
MILITARY PRESENCE HERE WAS PHASED
OUT AND THIS PART OF THE TRAINING
GROUND DEEDED TO THE ROYAL
CANADIAN LEGION.
AS THE MEN WHO TRAINED HERE CAME
FROM ALL PARTS OF CANADA, SO
TOO HAVE THE STONES COMPRISING
THIS MONUMENT BEEN COLLECTED
FROM ALL REGIONS OF CANADA.
WE WILL REMEMBER THEM
SEPTEMBER 1985

1914 - 1918
ARCHER WILLIAM
BEST, ROBERT E.
BUDD, HAROLD
COWL, ALBERT
COWL, HENRY
CUDNEY, LESLIE
CURRIE, WM. PERRY
DEY, W.
ELKINS, E.
GREEN ADELBORTS
GRIFFITHS, LLOYD
MATT, JAMES
HOUGHTON, ERNEST
HOUGHTON, ROBERT C.
HOUGHTON, TOM HADLEY
KELSON, JOHN M.
LEGATT, FREDERICK
LONGHURST, HERBERT
LOWERY, WRIGHT
McCOY, CHARLES
McKAY, JOHN
McLEOD, ARTHUR
McLEOD, WILLIAM
NELLES, NORMAN C.
NISBET, WALTER L.
PETERS, EDWARD
RENNIE, JAMES
ROSSITER, TED
RYAN, GORDON B.
SHEPHERD, EDWIN C.
THOMAS, REGINALD
THOMPSON, CHARLES T.
WILMOTT, JAMES

1939 - 1945
ADAM, R.C.
BROWN, W.
COOPER, D.
DIETSCH, J.J.
DINWIDDIE, G.C.
DUGGAN, F.C.
FAST, J.
GIBSON, G.
GRAFTON, P.W.
GRANGE, A.H.
GREAVES, R.
GRIER, G.M.
GRIMSTEAD, J.E.
HALL, J.M.
HINDLE, P.S.
HOLLINGSWORTH, G.
HOWARTH, J.L.
HUTCHINSON, ??
HUTCHINSON, J.L.
IRVINE, F.
LAMOURE, L.R.
LEWIS, R.S.
MANLEY, N.H.
MARTIN, B.
MATTHEWS, D.
PARR, D.P.
PICKARD, A.
SCOTT, G.
THOMPSON, E. WINNETT
UNGER, J.
WARD, F.
WING, R.E.
WRAITH, W.
YATES, L.A.
YATES, ??


1950  KOREA  1953

Southampton

Location:  Bruce County   N 44 29.824  W 81 22.513
At the corner of High Street and Huron Street N, in the centre island.
 

This is not the fanciest or most elegant memorial you will ever come across, but the setting is second to none.  The memorial is on a centre island in the middle of High Street, and from here the road opens up into a beautiful park and view of Lake Huron.  This can be a busy area in the summer, and the sunsets are amazing from this vantage point.  In winter the view can be stark and deserted.
The memorial itself is a stone cairn with a large cross behind it.  The cairn features two brass plaques, one for each of the World Wars, with the names of the men from this town who gave all in the great battles.  The plaques also pay tribute to the men from the nearby Saugeen Reserve who also laid down their lives.




Marker text:
Front:
THEY DIED
THAT WE MAY LIVE
IN PEACE
 



Left side:
1914     1918

IN GRATEFUL REMEMBRANCE
OF THE MEN OF SOUTHAMPTON WHO
FOUGHT AND DIED IN THE GREAT WAR

PTE. E. BOYLE
SERGT. MAJOR J.A. BUCKLEY
PTE. J.J. CAMPBELL
LIEUT. F. CARSON
PTE. F. COURTNELL
PTE. C. EBY
PTE. A. FENTON
SERGT. C. FOSTER
SERGT. L.T. HARRISON
PTE. S. JAMIESON
L.CORP. A. KNECHTEL
GUNNER O. KNECHTEL
PTE. H. MARSHALL
PTE. B. MYERS
PTE. C.J. NICKEL
PTE. R. PLAUNTE
PTE. G. PRINGLE
PTE. J. SHIELDS
LIEUT. J. TEAHAN
CAPT. L. TRANTER
SERGT. W.V. TRANTER
PTE. F. TUCKFIELD
PTE. O. VERNON

SAUGEEN RESERVE
PTE. I. AHKEWENZIE
PTE. L. AHKEWENZIE
PTE. E. MITCHELL
PTE. D. NAWASH
PTE. P. RITCHIE

"TO YOU FROM FAILING HANDS.
WE THROW THE TORCH.
BE YOURS TO HOLD IT HIGH."
 




Right side:
1939     1945

IN MEMORY OF
THE
MEN OF SOUTHAMPTON
WHO GAVE THEIR LIVES
IN WORLD WAR TWO

L. BERESFORD
R. BLACK
W.H. CARSON
J. CURRIE
C.G. EAGLES
M. FRANCE
K. McLEAN
A.M. McLEOD
G. SAUNDERS
H.S. SEABROOK

SAUGEEN RESERVE
E. JOHNS
M. JOHNS
S. NAWASH
M. SOLOMON

GREATER LOVE HATH NO MAN THAN THIS,
THAT HE LAY DOWN HIS LIFE
FOR HIS FRIENDS.

Waterford - Greenwood Cemetery

Location:  Norfolk County   N 42 55.635  W 80 16.652
On the north side of Thompson Road East, on the eastern outskirts of town.
 

This memorial is found in Greenwood Cemetery, erected by the Town of Waterford and the Townsend Township, to mark the veterans plot in this large cemetery.
A large cross marker stands in front of rows of smaller memorial stones, to honour the brave veterans who are buried in the local cemetery.  A Canadian flag accompanies the marker, making it easy to find within the confines of the cemetery.  The grounds are well kept and several of the individual memorial stones are decorated by family.



Marker text:
Front:
R.I.P.

1914-1918
1939-1945

1950-1953

Waterford

 

Location:  Norfolk County   N 42 55.979  W 80 17.416
On the west side of Main Street South (Old Highway 24), at the corner of Temperance Street.
 

This memorial sits in front of the old Town Hall.  Originally erected to honour the men lost in World War I, it has been updated to include battle of World War II and the Korean War.  No names are listed, however major battles within these wars are listed.
Near the memorial is a separate memorial telling the story of two local man about to be hanged in the War of 1812, who gave a secret Freemason signal to the American General.  The men were set free and their lives spared.  The stone is dedicated to the International Freemason brotherhood.  Not really a war memorial, but interesting nonetheless.  An Ontario Historical Plaque is located on the same grounds, telling of the story of the founding of Waterford.
The war memorial is a simple yet thoughtful way for this small town to remember its dead and those who sacrificed and returned.



Marker text:
Front:
1914   1918
1939   1945
1950   1953

IN MEMORY OF
THOSE MEN FROM
WATERFORD & TOWNSEND
WHO FELL
AND
IN HONOUR OF THOSE
WHO SERVED IN
THE GREAT WARS
& KOREA
 



Right side:
ARRAS
PACIFIC
CAMBRAI
HONG KONG
MONS
 

Left side:
YPRES
SICILY
FESTUBERT
ITALY
SOMME
 


 
Rear:
VIMY
BRITAIN AND ATLANTIC
NORTH AFRICA
DIEPPE
FRANCE - GERMANY
AMIENS