More than half the funds for a Township of Puslinch memorial to honour those who served and died in the First World War were raised by donations at public events, including a 1919 welcome reception for returned soldiers in Morriston, featuring a baseball game, supper, and a concert on the school grounds. Over two thousand dollars were raised by the citizens of Puslinch and the Township provided the remainder.
The committee responsible for the memorial was led by Reeve Hugh Ross and included representatives from patriotic groups, community leaders and mothers. Women’s groups were responsible for a large part of the event planning and fundraising. The memorial design was selected by June 1919 and purchased from a supplier in Kitchener.
The cenotaph was unveiled the following year on June 3, 1920, by Reverend Buckland, Member of Provincial Parliament for South Wellington. The unveiling was an all-day event that included a welcome to the returned soldiers, who each received a gold locket and chain from the Township of Puslinch, and a banquet at the Aberfoyle Fair pavilion hosted by the Women’s Institute president Mrs. Hohenadel.
Later, inscriptions were added to honour the Second World War and on June 3, 1949, a memorial service was held at the memorial. After the Korean War, an inscription was added for that conflict.
