CFB Borden - 100th Anniversary Memorial Wall

 
Location:  Simcoe County   N 44 18.731  W 79 53.216
On Cambrai Road, at the north entrance to the base.
 

This year, 2016, CFB Borden celebrates its 100th anniversary with great fanfare and flourish.  The airshow in June was spectacular as usual, as are the many events that are planned for the base and around the community.
One of the main projects for this celebration was the construction of a new memorial wall at the north entrance to the base.  This will be the site for future Remembrance Day ceremonies and other important events.  The wall and accompanying sculpture were unveiled in a large ceremony on June 9th, 2016.  The concept of this  beautiful structure was designed by famed Canadian artist and sculptor, Marlene Hilton Moore.

CFB Borden is the largest training base in Canada, this memorial honours all those who have passed through these gates in the previous 100 years, and to those brave souls who will visit here for the next century, to train and learn and respect.

 
 
Marker text:
Wall:
Front:
THROUGH THESE GATES THE SONS AND DAUGHTERS OF A GRATEFUL NATION PASS... SERVING CANADA WITH HONOUR, DUTY AND COURAGE, SO THAT ALL MAY LIVE WITH FREEDOM, DEMOCRACY AND JUSTICE.
 



 
"To those who fall I say:  You will not die
but step into immortality.  Your mothers will not
lament your fate but will be proud to have
borne such sons.  Your names will be revered
forever and ever by your grateful country, and
God will take you unto Himself."

General Sir Arthur Currie, Commander to Canadian Corps.

 (repeated in French)
 
 



Rear:
LEST WE FORGET
 


 
Statue:
They shall not grow old,
as we that are left grow old:

Age shall not weary them,
nor the years condemn.

At the going down of the sun,
and in the morning,
We will remember them.

(repeated in French)
 

Parry Sound - Chief Francis Pegahmagabow

 
 


Location:  Parry Sound District   N 45 20.365  W 80 02.313
On Bay Street, near the Harbour.  Next to the Charles W. Stockey Centre and Bobby Orr Museum.
 


Recently much has been written and produced to honour Corporal Francis Pegahmagabow, a native of the Parry Island Ojibwa Band and hero of World War I.  He later became Chief of his band and lead a full and fruitful life.
I refer to these links to learn more of this great man and his accomplishments:

http://www.veterans.gc.ca/eng/remembrance/those-who-served/aboriginal-veterans/native-soldiers/peaceful

http://www.ammsa.com/content/frances-pegahmagabow-footprints

http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/francis-pegahmagabow/

The memorial is situated with a beautiful view of Georgian Bay.  It was unveiled in June 2016 with much fanfare and celebration.  The memorial is a bronze statue of Pegahmagabow in his uniform, flanked by an a eagle and a caribou.  The only writing on the statue is a small plaque recognizing the name of the artwork and the sculptor.  A second plaque beside the statue gives a brief synopsis of his history, written in English, French and Ojibwa.  A smaller nearby plaque recognizes those responsible for the creation of this beautiful memorial.

Canada owes a great debt of thanks to Francis Pegahmagabow and his fellow native brothers across the country who have fought so gallantly in all major wars and conflicts.  This wonderful memorial is a tribute to the bravery of all these people.


Marker text:
Statue:
Francis Pegahmagabow - Hero of the Great War
June 21, 2016
Sculptor:  Tyler Fauvelle
 

Plaque:
Chief Francis Pegahmagabow
c. 1889 - 1952

 Francis Pegahmagabow, a superior scout and sniper during the First World War, served overseas with the Canadian Expeditionary Force.  In Canada's history, no other Indigenous soldier has ever received as many battle awards.  Born in Shawanaga First Nation (Caribou Clan), he settled at Wasauksing First Nation after the war.  Twice elected Chief, he became a passionate advocate for Indigenous  rights.

(repeated in French)

Brave in war, brave in peace
June 21, 2016

(repeated in Ojibwa)
 

London

 

Location:  Middlesex County   N 42° 59.256 W 081° 14.810
At the corner of Wellington Street and Dufferin Avenue, in Victoria Park.
 

The London cenotaph is an exact replica of the cenotaph found in Whitehall, London, England.  It was dedicated in November of 1934, and re-dedicated again in 1999.  The Imperial Order Daughters of the Empire, along with the Legion and several local service groups where responsible for the construction of this memorial.  It was originally planned in the 1920's, but the depression held of construction until 1934.
Originally erected to honour those lost in the Great War, additional inscriptions and small plaques were added in later years to also honour other wars and conflicts, including peacekeeping.  In 2005, the Year of the Veteran, a remembrance garden was added to the display.

An impressive piece of stonework, this monolithic memorial stands tall and proud in the southeast corner of London's historic Victoria Park.



Marker text:
Front:
MCM
XXXIX

1950 1953
 

(small plaque)
IN HONOUR OF THOSE WHO DIED
IN WAR AND CONFLICT

Erected 1934
by the Imperial Order Daughters of the Empire (IODE)

Rededicated 1999
by the London Municipal Chapter IODE
 




Right side:
MCM
XIV

THE
GLORIOUS
DEAD
 





Back:
MCM
XLV
 




Left side:
MCM
XIX

THE
GLORIOUS
DEAD

UNITED NATIONS
PEACEKEEPERS

(small plaque)
THE PEACEKEEPERS

WE WILL REMEMBER THEM
 
 
 

Coe Hill

 

 
Location:  Hastings County   N 44 51.959  W 77 49.335
In the cemetery at the east side of town, on Highway 620.
 

This old memorial is found in St. Michael's Anglican Cemetery, which spans both sides of the highway.  The cenotaph itself is on the north side, in the centre of the cemetery, while on both sides we can find several graves of former Canadian Forces service personal, with their distinctive gravestones.  I was impressed with just how many of these gravestones can be found in this cemetery.
The memorial was originally erected to honour those lost in World War I, with the names carved into the base of the cenotaph.  After World War II, the names of those lost in that war were added.  On top of the memorial is the bust of a young soldier of the Great War.

Coe Hill was home to the Warrior's Day festivities and parade, which happened each year on Labour Day weekend.  I had fully intended on finally attending this wonderful event this year, but sadly, 2015 was the last year it would be held.  Thank you to all members of the Coe Hill branch of the Legion for promoting the event for so many years, and for continually being active in the community.

 My apologies if some of the names are misspelled, as some of the engravings are weather-worn.


 
Marker text:
Front:
THAT THEIR NAMES MAY
LIVE WITH THEIR VALOR

ASLEEP IN FRANCE

1914-1918
 




Right side:
F.E. BROWNELL
C.H. BROWNELL
B. BROWNELL
W.A. BULLIED
H. BIRD
A.J. CURRIE
O.P. CONLIN
R.A. CLARKE
A.J. CAMPBELL
W.J. CAMPBELL
J.D. DANFORD
G.W. DANFORD
D. DIXON
W.H. GERRARD
D.H. GUNTER
G.A. GILROY
J.W. HEWTON
 




Left side:
W. JACKSON
C.N. KELSH
F. LEVERIDGE
J. LAIRD
A.F. MINDLE
A.O. MINDLE
E. POST
E. PALMATEER
B. REID
F.J. ROBBINS
T.L. ROSEBUCK
R. TUNER
H. TAYLOR
A. WALKER
J. WAITE
G. WAITE
 




Rear:
1939 - 1945

E.E. MUFFITT
G. FORBES
V. KEECH
T. NASH
R. PEACOCK
M. WOODBECK
I. WOODBECK