Alberta

The Sergeant Frederick Ernest Boalch Military Memorial Bursary was created in 2011.

Frederick Boalch was born in 1924, the son of E.H. Boalch, who was employed with the CPR in Calgary. In 1943, Boalch attended Mount Royal College, where he kept his fellow students entertained with his band, performing at the February Hockey Club dance. According to the Varshicom Yearbook, Freddie’s pastime was “his own lit’ orchestra” and not surprisingly his ambition was “to become a great band leader.” Sergeant Boalch left Mount Royal to join the Royal Canadian Air Force and died near the end of the war on his 21st birthday, February 12, 1945.

The Flight Sergeant Douglas Oliver Bevan Military Memorial Bursary was created in 2011.

Douglas Bevan was born in 1920, the son of a Methodist minister and his wife. Bevan attended Mount Royal College in the 1930s, was a teacher and joined the Royal Canadian Air Force in 1941. His training school noted that he was “keen, ambitious, should do a good job… cheerful and philosophical under difficulties.” Flight Sergeant Bevan died on December 25, 1942, at the age of 29 while serving with the Bomber Command flying out of Montreal. 

The Gunner Kenneth Beaumont Bell Military Memorial Bursary was created in 2011.

Kenneth Bell was born in 1916 in Gleichen, Alberta. He received his early schooling in a one-room school and came to Mount Royal College at the age of 12. In 1929, he returned home to work on the family farm. Bell was a strong athlete. He played hockey in the winter and, after he enlisted in 1943, Bell became a star pitcher for the fastball team at training camp in Manitoba. During the war, he served as a gunner with the 2nd Field Regiment of the Royal Canadian Artillery. Gunner Bell was killed in 1944 at the age of 28 at the Battle of Ortona, Italy.

The Warrant Officer Class II Frank Harvey Barker Military Memorial Bursary was created in 2011.

Harvey Barker came to Calgary from Carbon, Alberta to attend Mount Royal College in 1938. He returned in 1939 and was elected president of the High School class. The Chinook Yearbook gives this portrait of Barker: “a Badminton player deluxe. One of the best-liked fellows of the Boys’ Dorm, and always ready with a bright comeback to the would-be wit of the school. Studies hard, often working far into the night on his stamp collection.” The next year, Barker joined the Royal Canadian Air Force as Warrant Officer, Class II, 4189 Squadron and was killed during a raid over Germany when he went missing over enemy waters.

The Private James Alexander Arnell Military Memorial Bursary was created in 2011.

James Arnell was the first Mount Royal College student killed in battle during the First World War. Born in Springbank, Arnell came from a pioneering Alberta family, active in the Baptist church. Arnell enrolled at Mount Royal in 1912 and played on the rugby team. Upon graduation, he joined the 10th Battalion, Canadian Infantry Corps, Alberta Regiment. He served and died in France at the age of 20 years when a rifle grenade fell on the roof of a dug-out, killing him instantly. Private Arnell received the 1914–1915 Star, a medal awarded to soldiers by the British government for service between August 1914 and December 1915. 

The Pilot Officer Edwin Graham Milton Anderson Military Memorial Bursary was created in 2011.

Edwin Anderson, the first Mount Royal student to be killed in action during the Second World War, was born in 1920 and attended Mount Royal in 1940, when he was elected president of the High School class. The Chinook Yearbook called him “a modest and shy student” and remarked he was “a loyal enthusiast of the air force after the Christmas Exams.” Upon leaving Mount Royal, Anderson enlisted as a Pilot Officer in the 102 Squadron, Royal Canadian Air Force and was killed on September 1, 1941. Anderson went missing piloting a Whitley bomber, which was later found to have been shot down over Molenbeersel, Limburg, Belgium. 

The Pilot Officer Douglas Spencer Aitken Military Memorial Bursary was created in 2011.

Spencer Aitken came to Calgary from Lethbridge to attend Mount Royal College in 1937/38, joining the hockey and rugby teams as well as serving as art editor of the 1937/38 Chinook Yearbook. The yearbook congratulated him on being “outstanding in College sports”, and noted that Aitken made many friends at Mount Royal. Always wanting to be a pilot, Aitken joined Unit 403 Squadron of the Royal Canadian Air Force. He was killed on March 8, 1942 when his Spitfire plane went missing over enemy territory.

The Great War Memorial was commissioned by the Col. Macleod Chapter of the Independent Order of the Daughters of the Empire. It was dedicated in June 1924, “to the imperishable glory of the men of this province (Alberta) who fought and died for their King and Country in the Great War.”

Originally called the Victory Statue, the memorial features a bronze statue of an infantry soldier that was sculpted by Montreal sculptor Coeur de Lion MacCarthy and cast by the Henry-Bonnard Bronze Co. of Mt. Vernon, New York. The statue depicts a young Canadian soldier exultant over news of the signing of the Armistice. With uplifted rifle he stands, bareheaded, the attitude denoting victory and exaltation. The statue is mounted on a pedestal of Bedford stone. 

Coeur de Lion MacCarthy, the son of sculptor Hamilton McCarthy, produced numerous commemorative works after the First World War, including: Winged Victory in British Columbia; Great War Memorial and Lethbridge Cenotaph in Alberta; Winged Victory in Manitoba; County of Brome War Memorial, Verdun Victory Memorial, Monument to the Brave and Winged Victory in Quebec; Clifton Hill War Memorial and Woodstock Cenotaph in Ontario.

Calgary LAV lll Monument was dedicated on 10 September 2018 and recognizes the sacrifices of military members who served in Afghanistan. It was unveiled by The Military Museums together with the United States Consul General, Afghanistan Veterans, families of the fallen and special guests. 

Light Armoured Vehicle (LAV) III were originally manufactured by Canadians at General Dynamics Land Systems Canada in London, Ontario and were instrumental to troops in carrying out their missions while in Afghanistan. The monuments were created from decommissioned LAV III hulls, donated by the Government of Canada and built by Militex Coating Inc. and Fanshawe College students in London, Ontario.

Many of the cenotaphs built in commonwealth countries resemble "The Cenotaph" in Whitehall, London. Designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens, it was as a memorial specifically for those who died in World War I. The Calgary Cenotaph and accompanying benches, were added in 1928, at the west end of the Memorial park. The Calgary Cenotaph (1928) recalls the original ideas of the original "The Cenotaph" in Whitehall, London, but differs slightly.  Dedicated to the soldiers who died in both World Wars. As it was built prior to World War II, the front and back were amended with "and 1939 - 1945", and a longer sword blade,  to include those that died in the second world war. The wreaths are draped around the Cenotaph, instead of the circular wreaths which were hung on the front and back of the original. The main difference though is the addition of the crown and sword which may be in reference to the Alberta troops also known as "Lord Strathcona's Horse (Royal Canadians)". The shape of a cenotaph is based on three circles or arcs. The base is only partially above ground, and (symbolically) goes deep into the earth. While the sides of the column create two arcs that meet up high in the sky.