In 1931, the Gadsby branch of the Royal Canadian Legion decided to erect a memorial in honour of the soldiers who lost their lives fighting for their country. Research has shown that Chris Kruger, Arthur Heffer and Boddy Collins were the driving forces behind the project. Mr. Reynolds Sr. who was a stone mason, and Jim Hilton constructed the stone memorial. The memorial would be located in the Gadsby Cemetery. The Royal Canadian Legion held a dedication service at the memorial on August 30, 1931. This was the first Legion Memorial Service held at the Gadsby Cemetery. The Gadsby branch of the Legion always held this service on the last Sunday of August, until they gave up their charter in 1963. The few Legion members who were left in the district then joined the Stettler branch. The Stettler branch still holds this Memorial Service, or "Decoration Day" as it is commonly known. Those who lost their lives in the Second World War and any other war in which Canadians have fought and died have been added to the services.
Gadsby, Alberta
Type
Other
Inscription
ERECTED IN HONOR OF THOSE WHO DIED
1914-1918
1939-1945
Visitor information
Location
Gadsby Cemetery Cenotaph
Gadsby
Alberta
Gadsby Cemetery Cenotaph
Gadsby
Alberta
GPS Coordinates
Lat. 52.28905
Long. -112.33291
Lat. 52.28905
Long. -112.33291
W.F. Reynolds beside the memorial which he built at the Gadsby Cemetery
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The Gadsby Legion Memorial Service, August 1952
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Paul Berg, C. Melvin Boyd and Jim McKnight (members of the Gadsby Legion) who never missed a Decoration Day Service in 44 years.
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A life membership to RCL, Branch # 12 was presented to W.F. Reynolds for his work on the memorial.
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