Ontario War Memorials: North Augusta

Saturday, 7 January 2023

North Augusta

Location: United Counties of Leeds and Grenville

N 44.75943 W 75.73781

In a small park at the corner of Main Street and County Road 15.

This memorial has very little history available, we know it was restored in 2011, according to a nearby plaque, that gives very little information. The marble statue of a WWI soldier proudly stands on top of the grey granite base. The statue itself is only about one metre tall and is very weather worn. The memorial lists no conflicts or wars, but does provide the names, rank and years of the fifteen men from this village who died during the two World Wars, thirteen from WWI and two from WWII.

The Royal Canadian Legion Branch 604, mentioned on the restoration plaque, is located in nearby Spencerville.

Some additional information was found regarding the two youngest men named on this cenotaph. the following history is taken from https://greatwar100reads.wordpress.com.

"Martin Leo Carlin was born in Burritt’s Rapids, the youngest son of William Carlin and Catherine O’Neil Carlin. He attested in January 1916, listed as a school boy aged 18. His birthdate is listed as March 1897 in military records. He lied about his age. Family records say he was born in 1899, so only 16 when he enlisted. He was wounded in battle in August 1917 and succumbed to his wounds the following day. He was 18. He is also remembered on the Kemptville Cenotaph.

Lynn Newton Bissell was the youngest son of Arthur Bissell and Lillie Clow Bissell, born in Algonquin, a hamlet near North Augusta. He attested in February 1916, giving his birthdate as September 1899. His attestation papers list him as a student, aged 16. (Why was he accepted??) He sailed to England in October 1916. Shortly after his 18^th birthday, he was discharged from the Canadian Expeditionary Force and transferred to the Royal Air Force. As a Probationary Flight Officer, he was granted a temporary commission as 2^nd Lieutenant in August 1918. On 31 October 1918, he set off with Lt Eric Wensley Bragg on a bombing raid over the German Fleet. “While climbing out from East Fortune stalled and entered a side slip. Crashed upon which a bomb exploded killing both men.” He was 19."

Photography of this memorial was provided by Louise Bellec.