Sunday 26 June 2022

Kitchener - Afghanistan LAV III Monument

 

Location:  City of Kitchener     N 43.44783   W -80.46964

In front of the Kitchener Armoury, 350 East Avenue.

 

"HCol (Ret'd) Tom Jenkins OC, CD upon learning that 250 light armoured vehicles (LAV III) from the Canadian Afghanistan mission were going to be deactivated,  He suggested to the Prime Minister's Office that they be offered to communities across Canada as monuments commemorating the service of the 40,000 Canadians that served and the 162 that died in the Afghanistan Mission.

On Saturday Nov. 11, 2017, the City of Kitchener and the Regimental Council of the Royal Highland Fusiliers of Canada dedicated a monument before the Regiment, dignitaries, and Kitchener citizens.  This was part of the City's and the Regiment's Remembrance Day ceremonies.  This is the third such monument in Waterloo Region as a result of the work of the RHFC Regimental Trust and Council which demonstrates the huge support for our newest veterans.

This project was funded by the City of Kitchener plus funds and/or services raised by the RHFC Regimental Council from individual and corporate sponsors.  The City of Kitchener and the RHFC Regimental Council are most grateful for the community's generous support."

* https://www.veterans.gc.ca/eng/remembrance/memorials/national-inventory-canadian-memorials/details/9801

 A large black granite stone stands in front of the LAV to honour those who made this memorial possible.

Marker Text:

In recognition and memory of the efforts of approximately

40,000 Canadian Armed Forces personnel who served and

the 162 Canadians who died in the cause of bringing peace

and freedom to the people of Afghanistan

2001    2014





 



 

Saturday 18 June 2022

Seely's Bay

 

Location:  Leeds and Grenville United Counties     

N 44.47697   W -76.23682

Beside the Legion, at 116 Bay Street, Seely's Bay.

The village of Seely's Bay was established around 1832, as a port along the famous Rideau Canal.  The first industry in the community was an ashery. Potash was used for bleaching and making soap. By 1851, a stagecoach traveled through the village three times per week carrying passengers and mail north from Kingston to Perth to Smiths Falls. By 1885, the village was a shipping point for grain, lumber, livestock and wood. By this time, it was also a landing for steamboats traveling the Rideau system.  Today, the area is known more as a recreation and cottage destination for its close proximity to Kingston and the Thousand Island area.

 

The memorial is located beside Branch 491 of the Royal Canadian Legion.  The Legion takes great pride in maintaining the ground around the memorial.  Three flagpoles are flanked by the stone memorial on one side and an anchor on the other side.  The granite stone lists the names of the local men who died during the two World Wars and Korea, although it does not indicate in which conflict they perished.  The anchor was raised from the depths of Lake Ontario, but its origin is unknown.  A smaller black stone rests at the base of the flagpoles to acknowledge the sacrifice made by all who have served.  There is also a nearby bench accompanied by a signpost describing an incident involving an airplane crash during training that happened in the village.


*Photos by Louise Bellec.


Marker text:

Cenotaph:

ROYAL CANADIAN LEGION

BRANCH 491

DEDICATED TO THE MEMORY 

OF THOSE CANADIANS

WHO SERVED AND DIED


WORLD WAR I

1914 - 1918


WORLD WAR II

1939 - 1945


KOREAN WAR

1950 - 1953


DR. ELMER BROWN

J. GORDON BROWN

ALFRED C. DEAN

HUBERT J. DUNDON

JAMES W. EDGERS

DOUGLAS H. FRYE

SAMUEL A. GREENHAM

SAMUEL B. GREEN

JOHN HYDE

WAYNE KENNEDY

LEONARD J. McCONNELL

HUBERT McPHERSON

DANIEL E. PERRIN

NELSON R. PERRY

HILBERT L. SLY

G. OSBORNE TEDFORD

ARTHUR L. WARREN

LAWRENCE A. WILLIAMS

DR. ERIC WILLIS

HAROLD G. YOUNG

CLARENCE G. MAINSE

 

LEST WE FORGET

 

 

 

 

Flagpole stone:

IN MEMORY OF

THE MEN AND WOMEN

OF SEELY'S BAY

AND AREA WHO MADE

THE SUPREME SACRIFICE

LEST WE FORGET

 

 

 

 

Anchor:

THIS OLD ADMIRALTY-TYPE ANCHOR

(ORIGIN UNKNOWN) WAS RAISED FROM

LAKE ONTARIO AND IS DONATED TO

BRANCH 491 ROYAL CANADIAN LEGION

BY THREE WWII VETERANS:

ORVIN E. MARTIN

RUSSELL THOMPSON

D.G. MIKE WILLIS

-2004-















Sunday 12 June 2022

Toronto - South African War Memorial

 

 

Location:  City of Toronto     N 43.65123   W -79.38978

At the north side of the intersection of University Avenue and Queen Street West.

 

Approximately 8,000 Canadian soldiers supported the British Empire during the South African (Boer) War. The battles against the South African Republic occurred for over 2.5 years from 1899 until 1902. During the campaigns, about 270 Canadians perished. Eight years later, Walter Seymour Allward , of Vimy Memorial fame, was commissioned to design the South African War Memorial. At the top of granite column is the winged figure of Victory holding a gilded crown. At the base is a bronze sculpture representing Mother Britain flanked by two soldiers.  As expected, the sculptures are amazing. The memorial was unveiled in 1910 to great fanfare and was a huge community event for the city.  The names of the battles are listed on the tall granite column and on one side is an Ontario Historical Plaque dedicated to sculptor Walter Allward.  This is truly a beautiful memorial in the heart of the city.

 

 

Marker text:

Front:

DREIFONTEIN

JOHANNESBURG

DIAMOND HILL

BELFAST

RELIEF OF KIMBERLEY

RELIEF OF MAFEKING

HARTS RIVER


TO THE MEMORY AND IN HONOUR OF THE

CANADIANS WHO DIED DEFENDING THE EMPIRE

IN THE SOUTH AFRICAN WAR     1899 - 1902

 



Right side:

NATAL

SOUTH AFRICA 1901

SOUTH AFRICA 1902

 

 

Left side:

CAPE COLONY

ORANGE FREE STATE

TRANSVAAL

RHODESIA