The Morewood Cenotaph Committee honored their fallen on the 100th anniversary of the original unveiling of the cenotaph - July 6, 2021, by installing 21 mini-monuments - ten along each side - one for each of those who had given their lives, and one by itself at the back representing all who returned. A portrait of Hugh Carlyle Moffatt is etched into his memorial. He stood 5 foot 6, had dark hair and blue eyes. His complexion was described as ruddy and he had a burn scar at the outer corner of his right eye.
Hugh was a baker before the war. He departed Halifax aboard RMS Mauretania on 25 October 1916, arriving in England on 31 October. On 11 November 1916, he was diagnosed with a corneal ulcer and remained in the hospital until 1 March 1917. He was transferred to the 10th Canadian Railway troops on 5 November 1917. On 29 November he was listed with a gunshot wound and dangerously ill and succumbed to his wounds at No. 2 Casualty Clearing Station on 30 November 1917. His will was signed by Capt. E.J. Glasgow on 11 October 1916.
A letter from Hugh's Platoon Officer describing the events leading to his death was published 10 January 1918 in the Chesterville Record:
"It was on Nov. 28th, Just about noon, we had just finished our lunch of tea, bully beef, bread and jam when a report was brought in that our little railway had been hit by a German shell. We took one of our little engines and one car, onto which we loaded rails and materials, together with the tools to repair the track. We were a party of twelve, and when we were running along the track about four hundred yards from the famous Hill 60, south east of Ypres, a shrapnel shell burst over the car, hitting all but three of the party. I escaped with a hole through my steel helmet and a lump on my head, fortunately I did not lose consciousness and was able to send for assistance. It was not many minutes before we had a stretcher and some men from a nearby dugout to help us with first aid dressings.
He did not utter a single complaint during the journey, just asking men coolly what position he should lie in on the stretcher to do himself the most good. He set an example of courage and endurance which was more than creditable for one of his age.
He passed a quiet night, never complaining and seeming to suffer very little. He was very weak in the morning, and sank gradually all day, losing consciousness in the evening he passed quietly away at 11:40 am Nov 30th"
The 20 pillars representing individual soldiers are in alphabetic order. The 21st pillar sits in the shadow of the cenotaph and between the two rows.
