Finch Township Cenotaph

On November 11, 1935, more than a thousand people gathered in commemoration of the Armistice that ended the First World War. In preparation for the occasion, a cairn of field stones which local farmers had delivered for its erection, was built by Mr. Robert Kirkwood under the direction of the Berwick Women's Institute.

A tablet fitted into the side facing the village was engraved with the names of fifteen men of Finch Township who had lost their lives in the First World War. A parade of 75 veterans accompanied a guard of honour in the uniform of the Dundas, Stormont and Glengarry Highlanders. A local pipe band, led by two pipers of the regiment, Geo. Montgomery and Angus Cameron, led the assembly. At the cairn, the guard formed on two sides and the ceremony began with a hymn, "O Valiant Hearts", and a prayer by Rev. W.E. Davies. After a second hymn, the unveiling of the tablet took place with Dr. T.G. Bogart officiating.

Dr. Bogart, whose parents were pioneer settlers, paid tribute to Mr. and Mrs. Donald MacPherson, who lost one son, and a second son won the Military Medal for bravery. At the end of his remarks, the Last Post was sounded by Sgt. Major Metcalfe, R.S.M. The bugle again sounded at the close and the Piper's Lament was then played by the pipe band. The municipal wreath was laid by Mrs. MacPherson. The pipe band then led the parade to the Community Hall where dinner was served by the Women's Institute.

Following the dinner, Mr. George Pollock, Reeve of Finch Township, acted as Chairman. Selections by the pipe band were followed by the Chairman's address. Geo. Montgomery and Angus Cameron gave numbers on the bagpipes. R.M.S. Metcalfe sang comic songs and Rev. G.N. Maxwell of Lachine, Quebec, who saw overseas service, gave an interesting address. A Finch quartet filled in between speakers. Dr. Bogart, who had contributed toward the cairn, gave a short address. Remarks were also given by Rev. Mr. Beach and Rev. Father Donne. Frank Casselman, a returned veteran of Morewood, rendered one closing solo, "O Take Me Back to Old Ontario".

The cairn was made possible by a $100 subscription by Dr. Bogart, $25 by the Finch Township Council and the balance from the receipts of the dinner sponsored by the ladies of the Women's Institute under the President Mrs. John Rutley. Total proceeds of the dinner were $149.65. Later, a plaque was placed on the cairn by the Berwick Women's Institute under the leadership of Mrs. Wendel Henry in 1947 in memory of the boys who sacrificed their lives during the Second World War. This commemorates the sacrifice of all the fallen of Crysler, Berwick and Finch Villages, as well as the Township's heroic dead.

The war memorial erected in 1935 was situated on a corner of two county roads and very close to the travelled portion of these roads. It was decided to build a new monument as the old one could not be moved. The plaques were removed from it prior to being dismantled and put on the new monument. Later, a plaque was installed in memory of the Korean War. The new monument was constructed in 1986 immediately across the road from where the 1935 monument was erected.

WORLD WAR I 1914 -18
WORLD WAR II 1939 - 45
KOREA WAR 1950 - 53
LEST WE FORGET

ERECTED BY BERWICK W.I
IN MEMORY OF THOSE
FROM FINCH TOWNSHIP
WHO GAVE THEIR LIVES IN
THE GREAT WAR 1914 - 1918

WILLIAM ALGUIRE
VICTOR ARBIC
HAROLD COCKBURN
ALFRED ERRETT
JAMES HUNT
EARL MCDERMID
DOUGALL MCGILLIVRAY
MALCOLM MCINNIS
DANIEL MACMILLAN
JOHN MACMILLAN
PETER OUDERKIRK
ROY MCMILLAN
THOMAS MCPHERSON
CECIL OUDERKIRK
LLOYD OUDERKIRK

1939 — 1945

HAROLD CASSELMAN  —  ALLAN HOOPLE
WILLIAM FOLEY  —  KENNETH DEWAR
FORD BENNING  —  JOHN MACMILLAN
JAMES REDMOND  —  HORACE STARK
JACK HUTCHINSON  —  JOHN MCPHERSON
GLENN SMIRLE  —  GARNET SMITH  —  JOHN GRADY
DARYL MCLEAN  —  EARL OUDERKIRK