Mount Forest - Legion Br. 134

 

 

Location:  Wellington County     N 43.97993   W -80.73459

At the Legion, 140 Kings Street West.

 

The Mount Forest Branch of the Royal Canadian Legion is known as Branch 134, founded here in the Legion Memorial Hall by the B.E.S.L. in 1952.  The building is now known as the Frederick Campbell VC Building, named after one of the local heroes from WWI.  In front of the Legion are two Ontario Historical blue plaques that tell the story of Frederick Campbell and Lewis Honey, both awarded the Victoria Cross for valour in the Great War and both born in the area.  There is also an concrete pad and small plaque for a captured German field gun, but it was not present during my visit, presumably out for repairs.  The photos of the gun are from my previous visit in 2013.  Along the side of the building are found a series of murals depicting scenes of the Canadian Forces in action and paying tribute to the aforementioned VC winners.  The Legion is very active in this community and keeps a constant reminder of the sacrifices made by those who came before and served our country to ensure our freedom.

 

Marker text:

LIEUT. S. LEWIS HONEY, V.C; D.C.M; M.M.

1894-1918

Born at Conn, Honey enlisted in January 1915, with the 34th

Battalion, C.E.F. and served in France with the 78th Battalion.

During a Canadian attack in September 1918, in the Bourlon

Wood area, he recognized his unit under severe fire, and

rushed a machine-gun post single-handed, capturing the guns

and ten prisoners.  Later he repelled four enemy counter-

attacks and led a party which took another post and three guns.

On September 29 he led his company against a strong enemy

position and was mortally wounded on the last day of the

attack.  For his conspicuous bravery, Lieutenant Honey was

posthumously awarded the British Empire's highest decoration

for military valour, the Victoria Cross.

Archeological and Historic Sites Board of Ontario.

 

CAPTAIN FREDERICK W. CAMPBELL, V.C.

1867-1915

Born in Oxford County and raised near Mount Forest,

Campbell saw active service in the South African War.

He went overseas in 1914 with the first Canadian 

contingent and was posted to the 1st Battalion, C.E.F.

In June, 1915, his unit was engaged in the Givenchy

area of France.  During an attack on the German

trenches, Campbell held an exposed position under heavy

fire, despite the loss of most of his detachment.  He

then advanced and succeeded in holding back a strong

counter-attack.  Shot by a sniper, Campbell died of his

wounds.  For his gallant conduct he was posthumously

awarded the British Empire's highest decoration for

valour, the Victoria Cross. 

Archeological and Historic Sites Board of Ontario.

 

 

Selkirk

 

Location:  Haldimand County     N 42.83325   W -79.93432

At the entrance to Selkirk Park, 17 Main Street West.

The small rural community of Selkirk is located two kilometres north of Lake Erie.  A quiet village during the week, but very busy on weekends.  The memorial found here is located on the entrance gates of the town park.  The two pillars that form the gates each have two plaques that tell the story of the founding of the memorial in 1926 by the local Women's Institute and the re-dedication in 1990.  The plaques also list the names of the brave heroes from this community who perished in the World Wars.  As we have seen with most small villages such as Selkirk, the list of names of the dead far exceeds the size of the community, further reinforcing the sacrifice made not only by those who fought for our freedom but for the families left at home to carry on the daily business and farms. 

 

Marker text:

Left Pillar:

Top plaque:

THE SELKIRK WOMEN'S INSTITUTE

STARTED IN FEBRUARY 1902,

SPEARHEADED A FUND TO PAY RESPECT

TO OUR WAR HEROES IN

FEBRUARY OF 1924.  WITH THE HELP OF

THE COMMUNITY THE ORIGINAL GATES

WERE ERECTED IN 1926.  THESE GATES WERE

RE-DEDICATED IN NOVEMBER OF

1990.

Lower plaque:

IN MEMORIAM

THESE GATES HAVE BEEN ERECTED

IN PROUD AND LOVING MEMORY

OF THE MEN OF SELKIRK AND

COMMUNITY WHO SERVED IN THE

GREAT WAR  1914-1918

"GREATER LOVE HATH NO MAN THAN THIS

THAT A MAN LAY DOWN HIS LIFE FOR HIS FRIENDS."

                                                                       JOHN  15-13

 

Right Pillar:

Top plaque:

IN LOVING MEMORY OF

F/SGT  EARL CLARENCE BRAY                    PTE  ROY HENRY NELSON

PTE  JOHN WILFRED COLUMBUS                PTE  CHARLES REGINALD RAWCLIFFE

PTE  HAROLD DONALD                                  FO  JAMES REGINALD REBBETOY

PTE  JOHN MALCOLM DONALD                   PTE  ROY JOSEPH SCHAEFFER

PTE  LLOYD WALTER MARR                          STWD  DIRK VAN OOYEN

PTE  EDWARD MCKEEN                                   PTE  FRANK VEENSTRA

PTE  BERKLEY MITCHELL

WHO DIED IN MILITARY SERVICE FOR

CANADA DURING THE SECOND WORLD WAR

1939 - 1945

Lower plaque:

THESE

MADE THE SUPREME SACRIFICE

LIEUT  B. RYAN                                     DVR  H. ABSOLOM

SGT  S. EFFINGER                                 PTE  A. HARE

LCE CORP  ED INGALLS                     PTE  W.E. BROWN

PTE  J.R. TOWNSON                             PTE  A. CARLTON

PTE  W.E. MAXWELL                           PTE  A. DOUGHTY

PTE  L.V. EDSALL                                 PTE H. SHERK

PTE  J. ROBBINS                                   PTE  W.W. CUNNINGHAM

SNIPER  L.H. SIMMS                            PTE  BASIL JONES

                                 PTE  V. MELLON

"THEIR NAMES SHALL LIVE FOR EVERMORE"

Sudbury - WWI Cenotaph

 

Location:  City of Sudbury     N 46.49297   W -81.00083

On the corner of Elm Street and Lorne Street, beside the courthouse.

 

This tall granite memorial was constructed in 1928 to honour those who paid the ultimate price in World War I.  A brass sword adorns the top of the memorial and two plaques reminds of the sacrifices made in that horrendous war.  The sides of the cenotaph list the main battles of the Great War.  At the time of its construction, no one could foresee that we would once again send our best overseas to fight tyranny in only a few short years.  This cenotaph is no longer used for Remembrance Day ceremonies, they now take place at the newer cenotaph in Memorial Park, however the Legion still makes sure to place wreaths here at this historic spot to always remember the fallen.

 

Marker text:

Top plaque:

THEY DIED THE

NOBLEST DEATH THAT

MAN MAY DIE

FIGHTING FOR GOD AND

RIGHT AND LIBERTY

AND SUCH A DEATH IS

IMMORTALITY

 

Bottom plaque:

IN GRATEFUL

REMEMBRANCE OF

OUR

GLORIOUS 

DEAD

"THEY BRACED THEIR BELTS ABOUT THEM

AND CROSSED IN SHIPS, THE SEA.

THEY FOUGHT, AND FOUND SIX FEET OF GROUND

AND DIED FOR YOU AND ME."

 

YPRES      1914 - 1918     MONS

 

Right side:

PASSCHENDAELE

AMIENS

DROCOURT - OUEANT

CAMBRAI

VALENCIENNES

 

Left side:

ST. JULIEN

FESTUBERT

SOMME

VIMY

HILL 70

 

 

 

Vanleek Hill

 

Location:  Prescott and Russell United Counties

 N 45.519667   W -74.650787

 Beside the Post Office, at 35 Main Street East, (County Road 10).

 

The small community of Vanleek Hill in eastern Ontario is known as the Gingerbread Capital of Ontario.  Gingerbread is the woodwork that adds architectural detail to building exteriors and interiors. The porches, windows, gables, and rooflines of over 250 homes in Vankleek Hill contain Victorian era decorative gingerbread elements.  As such, this is an attractive small town with a proud history that includes the loyal service of its citizens during the time of war.  

The cenotaph was originally located in front of the Vanleek Hill Collegiate Institute, but it was recently moved to its current location in the community park beside the post office.  The names of those who gave their lives during the World Wars are listed on this beautiful monument.  The list of names is too long considering the size of this village, a reminder of the sacrifices made by all during the times of world conflict.  A plaque to acknowledge the Korean War was also added recently.  The park is kept in excellent condition, with a small rock fountain and benches provided by the Lions Club.  A steel silhouette of a resting soldier stands guard beside the cenotaph.

Courtesy of the Vanleek Museum, a list of names and bios of some of the fallen from WWI appears at this link:  http://www.vankleek.ca/PDFs/VKHWarMemorialWWICasualties.pdf

Photography by Louise Bellec.

 

 

 

 

Marker text: 

LEST WE FORGET

DEDICATED TO THE MEMORY OF

THE CANADIAN ARMED FORCES FROM

VANKLEEK HILL AND DISTRICT WHO

GAVE THEIR LIVES FOR WORLD PEACE

1914 - 1918

BARTON, G.F.

BARTON, O.R.

BERTRAND, J.A.

BRADLEY, W.H.

BROWN, W.

CALVANK, R.

CHRISTIE, D.

CONLON, J.T.

CUNNING, J.F.

CRUMMY, W.

DOWNING, R.L.

DUNNING, G.G.

DUPUIS, M.

EATON, D.

FLYNN, G.

FOUCAULT, J.

HARVEY, N.J.

JOHNSTON, J.M.

KIRBY, J.

LAFLAMME, F.

LAVIOLETTE, M.

LEROY, J.M.

LONSDALE, W.

MacALPINE, F.

MacDONALD, S.

MacLAURIN, H.J.

MacLEOD, K.

MASSIA, R.

McCALLUM, H.R.

McCUAIG, T.R.

MILLER, C.R.

REID, D.P.

ROBERTSON, W.

SAMPLE, T.R.

SEGUIN, V.

SHAW, G.

TAYLOR, D.

WHITE, J.A.

 

1939 - 1945

BERNIQUE, B.

BERTRAND, G.

BICKERSTAFF, L.D.

BROWN, R.E.

CAINS, F.L.

CAMPBELL, D.A.

CHARMAN, E.A.

CHISHOLM, D.F.

CLARK, H.

CONWAY, M.A.

DESJARDINS, F.

HARTRICK, N.

HUDSON, R.W.

HURLEY, A.

JOHNSTON, L.

MacDONALD, A.B.

MacINTOSH, A.V.

MacKINNON, M.C.

MacNEIL, D.G.

McCALLUM, D.H.

McDUFF, E.

McINTYRE, H.B.

McINTOSH, S.

McLEOD, M.

McCONNACHIE, W.J.

MILNER, E.J.

MILNER, E.P.

MILNER, G.B.

MIRON, J.A.

NORMAN, J.

RENWICK, A.H.

ROBERTSON, J.

SABOURIN, J.P.

SLOAN, P.

SPROULE, E.

WALSH, C.

WILLIAMS, P.

WILSON, C.

WILSON, D.W.

WILSON, L.G.

YOUNG. D.

 

 

Plaque top right:

KOREA

1950 - 1953