Ontario War Memorials: St. Catharines

Location: Niagara Region N 43.15973 W -79.24697

On the front lawn of the City Hall, corner of James and Church Streets.

This memorial is very controversial at the current time and situation that we find ourselves in. I will give a link for you to read more of this intolerable situation for which all of St. Catharines should be ashamed. Local government and "community stakeholders" would like to have this monument removed for reasons that are beyond comprehension. Read more here: https://www.iheartradio.ca/610cktb/news/future-of-private-watson-statue-still-unknown-1.16211354?fbclid=IwAR2w_O4DXPVv-OOYvL5nDJ78ajsMYpc5LLKzN1sD-_VsxAwyvoFdWN8b1W8

Now onto the memorial itself and the reason for why it was erected at the time. The following is taken from the Veterans Canada website:

"The Watson Monument was erected by the people of St. Catharines in 1886 to the memory of Private Alexander Watson, XC Winnipeg Battalion Riffles, Canadian Volunteers, and his companions in arms, who fell in battle during the Riel Rebellion in the Northwest Territories, A.D., 1885.

The monument was erected by the people of St. Catharines, where Watson and his family were long resident and highly esteemed. It stands on the City Hall green, is about fifteen feet high, and consists of a soldier, in full uniform, of the 90th Winnipeg Riffles, standing on a pedestal, each face of which is adorned with trophies. It was built by James Munro's Marble and Granite Works of St. Catharines, Ontario.

From the Thorold Post, Friday, August 13, 1886:

Watson Monument - City Council has a special meeting and granted permission to the Watson Monument Memorial Committee to place the monument on the grounds in front of the City Buildings. The original intention was to have it in the cemetery.

From the Thorold Post, Friday, September 17, 1886:

Unveiling of the Watson monument was Tuesday afternoon between 3 and 4 p.m., largest crowd ever seen in one city, (were on the fences, etc.) hundreds were there.

From the Thorold Post, Friday, September 17, 1886:

Watson monument was unveiled "last Tuesday". The article says it represents a Canadian volunteer in the "at ease" position. The deed was handed over to Mayor King from the Monument Committee. Major General F.D. Middleton, C.B., unveiled the statue.

Note: The Thorold Post, Friday, August 13th, 1886 edition supplies additional details about the location. From the North West Rebellion, C.P. Mulvaney, M.A.: Private Watson Private Alexander Watson, F.Co., 90th (Winnipeg) Battalion, who was wounded on the last day of the fight at Batoche, and died the following Saturday, was born in Toronto in 1858, but lived in St. Catharines the greater part of his life till about four years before the rebellion, when he moved to Winnipeg. While in Winnipeg he was in the employ of a contractor and builder, he having been brought up to that business in St. Catharines. He was the eldest son, but had an elder sister. Personally he was a generous, kind-hearted young man and a great favourite with everyone. He was unmarried, but was shortly to have led to the altar a very estimable young lady of Winnipeg."