Spearheaded by the Great War Veterans Association, pressure was exerted upon the Town and Municipality, beginning in 1919, for the establishment of a suitable memorial for the community. A Citizens’ Memorial Committee was formed in June 1920 to choose the type of memorial and raise funds for its construction. Chaired by W.V. Udall, editor of the Boissevain Recorder, the committee chose the present cenotaph in the hospital grounds, although a considerable number of people were in favour of a memorial hall.
During 1922 - 23, funds were raised by public subscription and the cenotaph was ordered from Sutherland Co. in Brandon at a cost of $4,000. It is made of British Columbia granite and the statue of Italian marble was carved in Italy. Names were engraved on the base of the statue in early 1924 and it was unveiled on Main Street in July of 1924. It was facing south on the street right-of-way, which is now a park area west of MacLeods Store.
The statue's gaze is nearly straight ahead with arms and hands holding the rifle in a less relaxed manner. The uniform, cap and equipment are expertly carved.
Some years later, the property caused some concern as to legal ownership and the Government of Manitoba arranged to transfer a twenty foot square in perpetuity to the Town of Boissevain. As far as it is known, this property still remains legal cenotaph area although the cenotaph was removed from the site in 1947 and transferred, at a cost of $2,000 to the present site within the Memorial Hospital grounds. At this time the names of those who died in the Second World War were added at the base of the cenotaph.
