The Aylmer Cenotaph was erected and dedicated on November 25, 1928. The design, by James Hutchinson and Peckham, weighed 15 tons and was constructed from two pieces of granite purchased from the Cleveland Stone Company and shipped by the Michigan Central Railroad to Aylmer. A special derrick was brought in to handle the installation.
The dedication ceremony, for some unknown reason, did not take place on the 11th of November as planned. It occurred two weeks later with a guard of honour provided by the Elgin Regiment under the command of Capt. E.W. Haines. The procession, led by the regiment and its band, included the St. Thomas Legion Pipe Band and the Aylmer Citizen's Band. The King's colours were carried by Lt. Ross McPherson and the Regimental colours by Lt. Balkwill. A memorial guard was mounted with arms reversed. Records indicate that over 2,000 people witnessed the event.
The bronze statue of a weeping woman adorns the war memorial; one hand is at her downcast face, while the other holds a wreath. On either side of her, etched into the stone, are the names of fifty-five men from Aylmer and Malahide Township who were killed during the First World War.
A copper plate was added at the bottom of the memorial shortly after the end of the Second World War listing the names of the 26 area men who died. Later, the plaque was removed and the names of the men permanently inscribed on the cenotaph. Recently, the words "Korean War 1950-1953" have been added.
