Kananaskis Veteran Guards Memorial

[plaque/plaque]

VETERANS GUARD OF CANADA
Over 10,000 veterans of World War I (1914-1918) enlisted to serve in
World War II (1939-1945) forming a special army unit in May 1940
known as the Veterans Guard of Canada.

Prevented from overseas service because of age, these veterans were
utilized in training active service recruits, protecting military installations,
war plants, vital utilities and railroads against sabotage. One of their more
important roles was guarding prisoners of war.

This was the site of World War II Seebe Internment Camp No. 130
which originally held conscientious objectors and enemy seaman. The
camp later held 650 prisoners of war, most were officers captured from
the German Afrika Korps by the British Eighth Army in North Africa.
A temporary tent camp nine kilometers north on Morley Flats held
10,000 prisoners in 1942 awaiting transfer to the newly built P.O.W.
Camp No. 133 in Lethbridge, Alberta.

During 1945 and 1946 the prisoners of War from this Seebe Camp
guarded by soldiers of the Veterans Guard, cleared trees for the
construction of Barrier Lake Reservoir.

This caird and the flags are dedicated by the KANANASKIS ROTARY CLUB
in memory of those soldiers who served Canada
during the two world wars
October 17, 1999