The Queen's Own Rifles of Canada First World War Tablet was unveiled in the University Avenue Armouries on 16 April 1921 by the Right Honorable Arthur Meighan, Prime Minister of Canada. Guests included the Lieutenant Governor of Ontario, the Premier of Ontario, the Mayor of Toronto, the Bishop of Toronto, joined of course by thousands of friends and relatives of the fallen. On the tablet is a robed woman holding a wreath of laurel in her outstretched hand. The plaque is dedicated to Major General M.S. Mercer and all of the Queen's Own Regiment of Canada’s casualties in the First World War.
With the outbreak of the First World War in August 1914, Canada responded by sending the Canadian Expeditionary Force. The Queen’s Own Rifles of Canada provided the vast majority of men to the 3rd Battalion. By the 11 November 1918 armistice, 7,562 Queen’s Own Rifles had served overseas. Of these 1,254 were killed in action, died of wounds or of other causes – approximately one in six. Thousands more were wounded. Six soldiers who had served with or been attached to The Queen’s Own were awarded the Victoria Cross for gallantry.
