This memorial was constructed in memory of citizens of Oshawa who sacrificed their lives in the First and Second World Wars and the Korean War. It was erected by the City of Oshawa. Dr. T.E. Kaiser was the leader of the drive to erect a monument dedicated to the citizens of Oshawa who had sacrificed their lives in the First World War. Kaiser's daughter, Josephine, suggested the "Garden of the Unforgotten" for the Park.
The monument was unveiled by Sir William Mulock, Chief Justice of Ontario, on November 11, 1924, and included bronze tablets which listed the names of 138 Oshawa residents killed in the First World War. Though based on a structure in Evesham, England, the memorial is quite unique. It contains stones of every First World War Allied Nation, as well as stones from many of the battlefields where Canadians lost their lives. Included in the memorial are stones from England, Scotland, Egypt, Newfoundland, Russia and Japan. Battles immortalized in the Oshawa monument include: Ypres, Vimy Ridge, Arras and Passchendale.
Another special feature of the monument is what lies beneath it. An airtight copper box is buried underneath the structure. It contains artefacts of 1924, such as newspapers, photos, and a cheque from the mayor to pay for the replacement of the slab that must be removed to unearth the box. The time capsule is to be opened in the year 2424. The bronze figure of a Canadian Infantryman still stands, surveying Memorial Park from on top of the monument. In 1948, more plaques were added to mark the losses that Oshawa families suffered in the Second World War and, later, recognition was given to the residents who went to Korea during 1950-53.
The City of Oshawa council approved improvements to Memorial Park in 2000. They included new entrances, new benches and lights, new pathways, and a Garden of the Unforgotten by the memorial. This work was to be completed by June 2001. Eight diseased trees needed to be removed because of their condition. The monument obviously holds an important place in Oshawa's history and it is witness to solemn ceremonies each Remembrance Day.
