Saturday 5 December 2020

Niagara Falls - Legion Br. 479

 

 Location:  Niagara Region     N 43.09074   W -79.08798

5603 Spring Street, in front of the Legion.

This memorial stands proudly in front of the A.C McCallum Branch 479 of the Royal Canadian Legion.

The following history is taken from the Branch's website:   https://www.rcl479.ca/history

The present location of Branch 479 is steeped in military history

During World War 1, the 176th (Niagara Rangers) Overseas Battalion Canadian Expeditionary Forces lived and trained on the grounds before heading to Europe. When the war ended in 1918 the military buildings were removed and the land was sold to the Niagara Falls School Board.
A public school was built on the site in 1921. Following a contest the name Memorial School was chosen as it honored the Niagara Rangers and other Niagara residents who gave their lives during the war.

Due to declining enrolment, the school was closed in 1981 and the building was sold to the city of Niagara Falls. Subsequently, the property was sold to Branch 479 in 1982 and renovations were begun to transform the building into the Branch we enjoy today.

Founded in May 1948, Branch 479 did not always call Spring Street home. Members previously met at a two-storey hall on North Street and we were originally called the Stamford Legion. It was later renamed the A.C.McCallum Memorial Branch 479 in honor of the well known Niagara veteran who shot down two German planes in combat before he was shot down by the infamous Red Baron.

Branch 479 is proud of its Memorabilia Room. All articles on display have been donated to the Branch. Much of the memorabilia comes from Flanders Fields thanks to a group of volunteer archeologists called The Diggers with the Flanders Fields Museum who work near the famous battle site.

The legion’s original goal was to give assistance to returning veterans and their families and has grown to include a great deal of community service. We conduct branch related activities and sponsor sports leagues as well as providing meeting space for various unions and community groups.

We are currently home to the Royal Canadian Army Cadets 2835 Cadet Corps, the Royal Canadian Naval Association Niagara Region, the British Canadian Veterans Association, the Niagara Memorial Militaires Alumni Drum Corps and The Niagara Regional Police Pipe Band.
 
The memorial is a tall granite shaft bearing the names of those who died in the World Wars.  A beautiful memorial to the heroes of the Great Wars, Niagara Falls is lucky to have such dedicated people to honour and remember the fallen.  The military history of this area dates back to the War of 1812, where nearby battlefields played key roles in the outcome of that early war for our freedom.
 
 
 
 
Marker text:
Front:
TO
OUR
GLORIOUS
DEAD
ALL
PEACEKEEPING
MISSIONS
1914 - 1918
1939 - 1945
1950 - 1953
AFGHANISTAN
LEST WE FORGET
 
 
Right side:
1939 - 1945
 
ADAM, ROBERT C.
BOUTILIER, DOUGLAS
BOUTILIER, WILLIAM
BOWMAN, GEORGE DOUGLAS
BOWMAN, GEORGE E.
CAMPBELL, GEORGE
CHEDORE, K.H.
CHEVERS, WILLIAM
COOPER, GEORGE
COUCH, ALBERT T.
DAVIES, ROBERT E.
DELL, HARLEY J.
DELL, THOMAS E.
EIDT, REGINALD T.
GREEN, ROBERT W.
HEXIMER, HARRY P.
HIGGINS, FRED
HILL, WILLIAM G.
HOLMES, WILLIAM G.
KENNEDY, EARL G.
MACDONALD, ALEX
MARTIN, W.S.
McCOURTIE, GEORGE A.M.
McLEOD, RALPH E.
McPHERSON, M.A.
MOLNAR, JOSEPH
MUNROE, JAMES HENRY
MULHOLLAND, JAMES
 
 
 
Back:
1914 - 1918
 
AKRIGG, RUSSELL
ARROWSMITH, ERNEST
BARNETT, KENNETH D.
BOLGER, VICTOR E.J.
BOND, ROY
BYRNE, THOMAS
CAMPBELL, FRANK
EDE, ALBERT
EVELEIGH, FRANK
FORSYTHE, MONTIE
FRENCH, F.
GALLINGER, KENNETH
JONES, GILLIAM
KENNEDY, GUY
LOCKYEAR, WILFRED
LOWE, FRED
OHOU, JOSEPH
POWELL, LESLIE
POWLEY, FRED
STARR, REUBEN
WHYBRA, HAROLD
WHYBRA, WILLIAM
WILLINS, HENRY
RUPERT, K. STARR
 
 
 
 
Left side:
1939 - 1945
 
MULHERN, PETER
MURRAY, ELDEN R.
NEWTON, LLEWELLYN C.
PENLEY, WALTER
PERROTTI, FRANK
POTENZA, THOMAS
REID, STANLEY
RILEY, HENRY
SABO, ANDREW
SHRINER, CHARLES
SMITH, HAROLD
SMITH, KENNETH DOUGLAS
SNYDER, CLARENCE
SOLOSE, JOHN J.
STAATS, JAMES
STALEY, JOSEPH S.
STAROSTIC, W.
STEVENS, ALBERT
THOMPSON, GEORGE S.
THORNE, WILLIAM A.
UPPER, BEDFORD
WALKER, JAMES D.
WEST, HERMAN
WHITE, WILLIAM G.
WHITTY, JACK W.
WING, ROBERT
WOOLNOUGH, CLIFFORD E.
YOUNG, ROBERT ALLEN
 






 
 

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