Ontario War Memorials: October 2017

Saturday, 28 October 2017

Sharbot Lake

Location: Frontenac County N 44 46.260 W 76 41.387
At 1107 Garrett Street, just east of Elizabeth Street.

This memorial consists of the beautiful Soldiers Memorial Hall and a small cenotaph in front of the building which is dedicated to all veterans who have served our country. The Royal Canadian Legion Branch 425 was first formed in this Hall in 1946. They moved to their own specific building shortly after receiving their Charter in 1949. The Soldiers Memorial Hall is still extremely active in this community, acting as not only a place of Remembrance but also as a true community centre.
The cenotaph, though simple, is still the site of annual Remembrance Day ceremonies and a reminder to the community of the sacrifices made many years ago to ensure our freedom today.

Marker text:
(Legion crest)

DEDICATED IN HONOUR OF
ALL VETERANS WHO SERVED IN
THE ARMED FORCES OF CANADA

1914 - 1918 1939 - 1945
THE KOREAN WAR

LEST WE FORGET

THE ROYAL CANADIAN LEGION BR. 425
AND
THE TOWNSHIP OF OSO
NOVEMBER 11, 1987

Saturday, 21 October 2017

Belmont

Location: Elgin County N 42 52.897 W 81 05.160
On the south side of Caesar Road, in the Belmont Community Park.

The memorial is fairly new by most standards. It consists of a remembrance walkway with engraved stones dedicated to local heroes who have served in the Canadian Forces. The pavement stones themselves tell a story of history and service. At the head of the memorial is a stone with sentimental words and a flag painted onto it. Behind the stone and on higher ground is a stylized poppy bounded by a maple leaf. I found this to be a touching memorial for a small town, and good to see that even in modern times they still choose to remember.

Marker text:
This Cairn is dedicated
to the valiant Canadians
who have served and to those
presently serving in both
war and peace.
We Salute You

Saturday, 14 October 2017

Port Dover

Location: Norfolk County N 42 47.182 W 80 12.178
At 250 Main Street, in Powell Park.

This memorial consists of a two stone cairns, an anchor and two War of 1812 cannons. Sadly during my visit the area was under construction and access to the cannons and anchor was out of bounds.
The main cenotaph was erected by the Port Dover Women's Institute in 1921. A brass plaque listing the dead of the First World War was proudly unveiled. Subsequent brass plaques were added in later years to honour the dead of World War II (added in 1949) and to pay homage to the Korean War and Peacekeeping.
The second cairn is dedicated to this being a National Historic Site of significance during the War of 1812, when Maj-Gen. Sir Isaac Brock led a raiding party from here to capture Detroit. This was erected in 1929 by the Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada.
The area can be very busy during the summer months as this is a tourist town, but the historic importance and the sacrifices made by men of this area will always be remembered.

Marker text:
Cenotaph:
WWI plaque:
1914 1918
IN MEMORY
OF PORT DOVER AND WOODHOUSE BOYS
WHO GAVE THEIR LIVES IN THE GREAT WAR

D.T. ABBOTT
LEONARD BLAKE
ALFRED BLAKE
WALTER BRADBURY
LEA BOUGHNER
MILTON CRUISE
WILLIAM FAULKNER
CHARLES FRANKS
JOHN FOLMSBEE
LLOYD HAMMOND

ROY HICKMAN
JOHN HUKE
EARL KRELL
WALTER LOWE
WILLIAM LOWN
WALTER LONG
JOHN MAY
GORDON McCALL
ARCHIBALD MORRIS
ROBERT NUNN

EARL DENNISON
CECIL POWELL
CHARLES PLACE
WILSON PORTER
HENRY QUANBURY
EARNEST QUANBURY
JOHN SPAIN
DAN SMITH

ERECTED BY PORT DOVER WOMENS INSTITUTE 1921

WWII plaque:
1939 1945
IN MEMORY
OF PORT DOVER AND WOODHOUSE BOYS
WHO GAVE THEIR LIVES IN WORLD WAR II

HUGH ALLAN
CHARLES BLACKHURST
ROBERT FERGUSON
WM. H. GRAHAM
DOUGLAS HAMMOND

TOM IVEY
JEFFREY LONG
LLOYD MARR
JAMES MILLER

CHAS. E. PHILLIPS
RICHARD RYERSE
BRUCE ST. LOUIS
JACK H. THORNTON
HERBERT ZEALAND

ERECTED BY
PORT DOVER LADIES AUXILIARY B.E.S.L. No.158. 1949.

Korea plaque:
Korean War 1950 - 1953
Erected by the Royal Canadian Legion
Hugh Allan Branch No. 158
1985

Peacekeeping plaque:
IN HONOUR OF
CANADIAN U.N. PEACEKEEPERS AND
CURRENT ARMED FORCES
THE TORCH IS STILL BEING HELD HIGH.
ROYAL CANADIAN LEGION HUGH ALLAN BR. 158

War of 1812 plaque:
WAR OF 1812
MAJOR GENERAL ISAAC BROCK
WITH 40 MEN OF HIS MAJESTY'S
41st REGIMENT AND 260 OF THE
YORK, LINCOLN, OXFORD AND
NORFOLK MILITIA, SET OUT FROM
PORT DOVER ON THE 8th AUGUST,
1812, TO RELIEVE THE INVADED
WESTERN FRONTIER.
HIS BRILLIANT CAPTURE OF
HULL'S ARMY AT DETROIT WITH
A MUCH SMALLER FORCE SAVED
THIS PROVINCE TO THE EMPIRE
AND MADE BROCK
"THE HERO OF
UPPER CANADA"
ERECTED 1929

Sunday, 8 October 2017

Toronto- Victoria Cross Memorial

Location: City of Toronto N 43 45.918 W 79 25.189
On the main boulevard in York Cemetery, North York. East off of Beecroft Road.

A beautiful memorial dedicated to the 99 men who have been awarded the Victoria Cross while fighting as with the Canadian military. The monument is set out to represent the shapes of the Victoria Cross and a Maple Leaf and occupies the main walkway along the boulevard that runs through York Cemetery.
Unveiled in July 2017, the memorial has individual plaques for each VC winner describing their actions of bravery which led to their receiving the highest honour awarded by the British Commonwealth. Also featured is a large replica of the Victoria Cross and an accompanying plaque that describes the history and significance of the award.
http://www.mountpleasantgroup.com/Resources/victoria-cross-memorial.aspx

The Victoria Cross has not been awarded to a Canadian since World War II, sadly excluding the acts of bravery demonstrated in Korea, Nato peacekeeping activities or Afghanistan. A new "Canadian" VC has been designed to replace the highest honour.

Marker text:
THE VICTORIA CROSS, which was instituted by Queen Victoria in
1856, is the Commonwealth's premier military decoration for gallantry. It
was created to honour "most conspicuous bravery, or some daring or
pre-eminent act of valour or self-sacrifice, or extreme devotion to duty in
the presence of the enemy."

A recommendation for the Victoria Cross was usually issued by an officer
at the regimental level, or equivalent, supported by three witnesses. It was
subsequently passed up the chain of command to the secretary of state for
defence, and then presented to the reigning monarch to sign. some awards
were bestowed posthumously. All citations were published in the London
Gazette.

The bronze cross pattee was originally made from the metal of two
Russian cannons captured at the Siege of Sevastopol (1854-55) during the
Crimean War. The pattee is decorated with the Royal Crown surmounted
by a lion guardant. Below it is a scroll with the words"FOR VALOUR."
The recipient's rank, name and regiment were engraved on the reverse of
the mounting bar and a ribbon added.

Canada's recipients total 99, including some who were attached to the
forces of other Commonwealth countries as well as non-Canadians
serving in Canadian units.

Click on any of the photos to enlarge them.

Victoria Cross Recipients

Prior To The South African War

The South African (Boer) War

Second World War