Conception Bay South Monument of Honour

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.

CONCEPTION
BAY SOUTH
MONUMENT
OF HONOUR

[plaque]
THE CONCEPTION BAY SOUTH
MONUMENT OF HONOUR

This "Monument of Honour" was
the vision of Wayne Miller of
Conception Bay South
Lieutenant-Colonel Miller retired
from the Canadian Forces in 1990 at
the rank of Chief Warrant Officer
after twenty-nine years of service.
In his retirement he was appointed
to the rank of Honourary LCol of the
728 (St. John's) Communication
Squadron. He envisioned a memorial
for all uniform services that serve to
protect our country and communities,
and was the driving force behind the
creation of this monument.

This plaque is erected in gratitude, on behalf
of all uniform services and the citizens of
Conception Bay South.

[plaque]
Conception Bay South

"Monument of Honour"
Dedicated on 04 October, A.D., 2015
By the Lieutenant Governor of Newfoundland and Labrador
The Honourable Frank F. FAGAN, CM, ONL, MBA

Dedicated to The Veterans of Conception Bay South:
Honouring those who served and Remembering those
who paid the Supreme Sacrifice For the Freedoms we Enjoy

The First Responders who place themselves at risk, in daily
Service to our Community, Province, and Country, Canada.
"Lest We Forget"

« Monument d'honneur »
Inauguré le 4 octobre de l'an 2015 apr. J.-C.
par le lieutenant-gouverneur de Terre-Neuve-et-Labrador
l'honorable Frank F. FAGAN, CM, ONL, MBA

Dédié aux Vétérans de Conception Bay South:
Pour commémorer ceux et celles qui ont servi et honorer
la mémoire de ceux et celles qui ont consentil le sacrifice ultime afin que nous
ayons la liberté dont nous jouissons aujourd'hui
Et
aux premiers répondants qui risquent leur vie tous les jours
pour servir notre communauté, notre province et le Canada, notre pays.
« N'oublions jamais »

(shaft/socle)

[front/devant]
PTE. EDWARD HISCOCK
DIED OF PNEUMONIA
THORNECLIFFE
DEC. 26. 1915

PTE. HENRY CHAS. DAWE
KILLED IN ACTION
BEAUMONT HAMEL
JULY 1, 1916.

PTE. CECIL PARMITER
KILLED IN ACTION
BEAUMONT HAMEL
JULY 1. 1916.

PTE GEORGE MILLER
KILLED IN ACTION
BEAUMONT HAMEL
JULY 1. 1916

1914 Newfoundland 1918

IN MEMORY OF THE MEN OF THE
ROYAL NEWFOUNDLAND REGIMENT
WHO ENLISTED FROM THIS PARISH
AND DIED IN THE WORLD'S WAR
FRO GOD. KING AND COUNTRY.

IN MEMORY OF
THOSE WHO FELL IN THE SECOND WORLD WAR
1939 - 1945

[right side/côté droit]
PTE. JOHN L. HIBBS
DIED OF WOUNDS
MESNIERES
DEC. 6. 1917.

PTE. GREGORY NEVILLE
DIED OF TUBERCULOSIS
JENSON CAMP ST. JOHN'S
JULY 3. 1918

PTE. JAMES WHELAN
KILLED IN ACTION
LEDEGHEM
OCT. 14. 1918.

PTE. NORMAN PARMITER
DIED OF WOUNDS
LEDEGHEM
OCT. 15. 1918.

PTE. WILLIAM HICKEY
KILLED IN ACTION
MAR. 10. 1918

FREDERICK MORGAN (R.N.R)
HMS VIKNOR
JAN. 13. 1915

JOHN T. MORGAN (R.N.R)
HMS CLAN MCNAUGHTON
FEB 3. 1915

[back/arrière]
PTE. FRED PARIMTER
DIED AT
THE GENERAL HOSPITAL
FROM THE
EFFECTS OF WOUNDS
MAY 26, 1932

PTE. GARLAND WARFORD
KILLED IN ACTION
BEAUMONT HAMEL
JULY 1. 1916.

PTE. THOMAS C. BUTLER
KILLED IN ACTION
SAILY - SAILLISEL
MAR. 2. 1917.

HENRY G. BARNES A.B.R.N.
KILLED IN ACTION
SEPT. 20. 1943

P.F.C. CLARENCE CHAYTOR
KILLED IN ACTION
JAN. 16. 1945

JOHN MCCARTHY C.N.
KILLED IN ACTION
SEPT. 26. 1941

NEWFOUNDLAND MERCANTILE MARINE
NOAH SMITH & WILLIAM EASON
LOST AT SEA NOV. 17. 1915

[left side/côté gauche]

PTE. ALLAN MOYSE
KILLED IN ACTION
BEAUMONT HAMEL
JULY 1. 1916.

PTE. MAXWELL BARNES
KILLED IN ACTION
BEAUMONT HAMEL
JULY 1. 1916.

PTE. THOMAS DRUKEN
DIED OF WOUNDS
GEUDECOURT
NOV. 1. 1916.

PTE. JAS. JOHN O'BRIEN
KILLED IN ACTION
MONCHY
APRIL 14. 1917.

PTE. FREDERICK DAWE
KILLED IN ACTION
JULY 10 .1917

PTE. WARRICK PERRY
DIED OF WOUNDS
OCT. 10. 1917

MERVYL C. KENNEDY R. N.
H.M.S. MANIESTEE
FEB. 24. 1941

[wall/mur]

(plaque)

• Peacekeepers
• In Memory of those men
  and women of the Canadian and
  Allied Forces, who made
  the supreme sacrifice for
  their country, in times of war,
  peace or peacekeeping.
• We Will Remember Them
• Les soldats de la
  paix
• A la mémoire des hommes et
  des femmes des Forces
  canadiennes et alliées, qui
  ont sacrifié la vie au
  nom de leur pays, en période
  de guerre, de paix ou de
  maintien de la paix.
• Nous nous souviendrons d'eux

CONCEPTION
BAY
SOUTH
MONUMENT
OF
HONOUR

CONCEPTION
BAY
SOUTH
MONUMENT
OF
HONOUR

(plaque)
THE ROYAL CANADIAN MOUNTED
POLICE ASSUMES PROVINCIAL POLICING
RESPONSIBILITIES IN NEWFOUNDLAND
AND LABRADOR WITH THE ABSORPTION OF
THE NEWFOUNDLAND RANGER FORCE IN
1950.

THE RCMP IMAGE IS
ERECTED IN MEMORY AND GRATITUDE

FOR ALL THOSE WHO HAVE,
WILL AND
WHO ARE
CURRENTLY SERVING.

(plaque)
IN MEMORY OF THOSE MEN
AND WOMEN OF THE CANADIAN AND
ALLIED FORCES, WHO MADE
THE SUPREME SACRIFICE FOR
THEIR COUNTRY, IN TIMES OF WAR,
PEACE AND PEACEKEEPING.

WE WILL REMEMBER THEM.

(plaque)
IN HONOUR OF THOSE WHO HAVE
SELFLESSLY GIVEN THEIR LIVES FOR
THE GOOD OF THEIR COMMUNITY. THEIR
TASKS HAVE BEEN COMPLETED AND
THEIR DUTIES WELL DONE. TO OUR
FALLEN COMRADES WHO HAVE
ANSWERED THEIR LAST ALARM,

THEY ARE GOING HOME.

(plaque)
DEDICATED TO THE ROYAL
NEWFOUNDLAND CONSTABULARY
NORTH AMERICA'S OLDEST POLICE
FORCE PROTECTING OUR PROVINCE
AND PEOPLE SINCE 1729.

A SWORN OATH WE PROUDLY PERFORM

MANY HAVE GONE BEFORE

MANY WILL FOLLOW