On October 4, 1914, 538 men known as the "First 500" or "Blue Puttees" sailed from St. John's for Britain. They would become known as the "Blue Puttees" because of the colour of the uniform leggings they wore on their lower legs. The ensuing four years saw many Newfoundland soldiers, some as young as 16, make the supreme sacrifice on the battlefields of Turkey, France and Belgium while serving with the Royal Newfoundland Regiment and other Empire Forces.
Topsail suffered like so many other Newfoundland towns in the aftermath of Beaumont-Hamel. Five families in Topsail lost loved ones at that fateful battle. Three of the Topsail soldiers were "Blue Puttees". Eight more men were killed in action, died of wounds, or sickness by 1922, the year the Topsail Cenotaph was unveiled. A striking granite memorial adorned with a cross unveiled by Governor Sir Charles Alexander Harris on Regatta Day, August 9, 1922.
The project was funded by the Topsail Patriotic Fund Committee from monies raised by its citizens. The cenotaph was inscribed with 13 names of Topsail men who died in the First World War. Twelve of the men were Royal Newfoundland Regiment soldiers, one died serving with the Royal Canadian Regiment. After the Second World War, three more names from the Parish of Topsail were added.
In the mid 1970s, road construction forced its relocation on the main highway coming from St. John's towards Conception Bay to land acquired by the Royal Canadian Legion on Monument Road. It was moved to its current location in 2008 because of the deterioration of the steps and concrete around the Cenotaph and the difficulty elderly Veterans had climbing the steps.
Veteran Wayne Miller, served 29 years in the Canadian Forces with the Signal Corps. He contacted the Royal Canadian Legion Branch 50 and the Town of Conception Bay South for their support in moving the cenotaph. He then contacted artist Gerald Squires with his ideas for the new monument. They went to the National War Memorial in St. John's and looked out at the city harbour. This is where the idea for the gates of the monument came from - the Narrows of St. John's. The four circular walls were inspired from the curved wall of St. Pat's School Monument by Newfoundland artist Roger Maunder. After a few months of more concepts, Gerald presented Wayne with a drawing incorporating most of the elements seen today in the monument. Artist Morgan MacDonald was hired to create the statues on each side of the center piece.
A concrete pad was poured in 2008 to support the Topsail Cenotaph in the new location. The cenotaph was moved with the help of Woodrow Janes and Family Memorials. Then the stone walkway, platforms and curved concrete walls were all added by 2010. Two Royal Newfoundland Regiment statues arrived in time for an unveiling and Remembrance Day ceremony on November 11.
One statue depicts a member of the Blue Puttees, a member of the famed "First 500". It shows him in quiet reflection, remembering lost comrades and friends. The second statue depicts a modern-day female member of the 1st Battalion, Royal Newfoundland Regiment, on patrol. The models for the statues were married couple Roxanne and Terrence Hurley. Roxanne joined the reserves in 1988 and was attached to the 2nd Battalion, Princess Patricia's Light Infantry which came under fire at Medak Pocket, Croatia. Terrence joined the military in 1971 with the Royal Canadian Regiment. He served overseas many times, after 41 years of service he retired as Regimental Sergeant Major, 1st Battalion, Royal Newfoundland Regiment.
In 2011, four plaque sculptures were added to two of the curved walls to represent Firefighters - bust of Chief William Bursey, Royal Newfoundland Constabulary - bust of Sergeant Paul Dawe, Royal Canadian Mounted Police - bust of Sergeant Reg Gulliford and Peacekeepers - bust of Corporal John Scott, Royal Canadian Dragoons. Over the next few years, sixteen bronze plaques, commemorative name plates in granite, lighting, flags and borders were added. More names were added to the original cenotaph to recognize the sacrifices of soldiers and sailors from surrounding communities Conception Bay is comprised of nine historical communities (Topsail, Chamberlains, Manuels, Long Pond, Foxtrap, Kelligrews, Upper Gullies, Lawrence Pond, and Seal Cove).
Conception Bay South Monument of Honour, a project ten years in the making, was dedicated on October 4, 2015, by Lieutenant Governor Frank F. Fagan.
Morgan has completed many military pieces across the province: The Homecoming, One Hundred Portraits of the Great War and Caribou Memorial Veterans Pavilion, St John's; Danger Tree and Private Hugh McWhirter Statue, Corner Brook; Cox's Cove War Memorial; and Sergeant Gander and his Handler Memorial; Gander.
