Ontario

On November 11, 2017, a plaque was unveiled at Britannia Yacht Club to commemorate the fatal crash of Royal Canadian Air Force Consolidated PBY-5A Canso Flying Boat in July 1945. The plaque includes the crash history, a poem and the names of the officers who were killed. The plaque was organized with the help of local aviation author Peter Pigott.

On the afternoon of July 23, club members watched a Royal Canadian Air Force Canso during a training drill of practicing water landings on the Ottawa River. The Second World War had ended that May and those who had survived would soon return to sail at the club. The Canso was the last of the RCAF’s 162 Squadron, a home defence unit that had been posted in January, 1944 to Reykjavik, Iceland and later Wick, Scotland. The squadron had sunk five U-boats, shared in the destruction of a sixth and damaged a seventh. 

Touching down on the river, the Canso’s wing tipped into the water and tore off. The aircraft then flipped over and began sinking. It went to the bottom within minutes, trapping the crew inside. By the time boats from the yacht club and Aylmer, Quebec got to the scene, it was marked by floating log books, oil slicks and bodies. Killed were:

Injured were Flying Officer A.F. Gerding, and Flight Lieutenant J. Beattie, an observer from Rockcliffe. For attempting to rescue Murphy, who had been trapped in the sinking aircraft, Olson was recommended for the George Cross, but somehow this was not followed through.

Designated in November 2017, Stuart Kettles Street is named in memory of Leading Seaman/Writer Stuart Kettles.

Stuart Kettles was born on 1 September 1917 in Ottawa where he attended the High School of Commerce and Ottawa Technical. Following the completion of his education, he was employed as a clerk-stenographer for J.R. Booth Company, from 1937 to 1941. He joined the Royal Canadian Naval Volunteer Reserve in 1941 and following his training, was assigned to HMCS ATHABASCAN. Kettles was aboard the ATHABASKAN when she was topedoed by German torpedo boat T-24, north of Ile de Batz off the coast of France, on 29 April 1944. He survived the sinking and spent the remainder of the war as a prisoner at the Marlag und Milag Nord POW camp, near the German town of Westertimke, 30 km north-east of Bremen.

After the war, Stuart Kettles returned to Ottawa and joined the Ottawa Police Service where he served from 1946 to 1966, attaigning the rank of sergeant. Stuart Kettles died in Ottawa on 20 May 1966.

This electric organ and plaque in Britannia United Church are dedicated to the members of the congregation who gave their lives during the Second World War. Their names were added to the Britannia Church honour roll.

Reverend Gordon Dangerfield payed tribute during a special memorial service April 6, 1946 to the 12 men who fell, and on February 9, 1947, the electric organ and memorial plaque were dedicated in a separate special service.

Britannia Park was built by students from Regina Public School, Pinecrest Public School, and Dr. F.J. McDonald Catholic School under the supervision of artist Karl Ciesluk. It was unveiled in 2013, and is dedicated to the men and women who served their country in wartime. The park is an octagonal-shaped enclosure, bordered by eight low concrete walls, six of which have mosaics showing poppies. The entrance is flanked by two commemorative plaques.

The Brittania Boating Club Memorial Cairn is unique because it lies inconspicuously near a grove in the Brittania Boating Club Memorial Park in the middle of the club's cruising ground. It was dedicated in 1949.

The club was struck heavily by the hand of death during the First World War. Ten of its members overseas were killed: J. Cunningham N.S. Macdonald C. Saunders R.W. Nichols U. Seguin R. Stata D. Masson G. Masson W. Salton S. McDonald. Ken Slater was taken prisoner of war. Over 500 members (of the overall club) were at one time or another, on active service during the four years. There is unfortunately no record of the names of these members or of casualties. In 1918, the Club unveiled a service flag, about 12’ x 24’ with one large maple leaf in the center with block letters showing the enlistment. Unfortunately no photo or copy of this flag can be found in the archives.

This display cabinet is located in the Commodore’s Boardroom of the Britannia Yacht Club. Within the cabinet are the Thomas G. Fuller trophy, and Captain Thomas Fuller’s officer’s uniform, military decorations, and officer’s naval sword. It was unveiled in 2012 as part of the Britannia Yacht Club’s 125^th anniversary celebrations, and is dedicated to the memory of Thomas G. Fuller and the Canadian Forces Naval Reserve.

Captain Thomas George Fuller was a Canadian naval officer who earned renown in the Second World War for his actions as a member of the Canadian Forces of the Royal Navy, where he joined the Royal Canadian Naval Volunteer Reserve. Captain Fuller served as Commodore to the Britannia Boating Club in Ottawa from 1948 – 49.

This tank was dedicated by the 22nd Canadian Armoured Regiment (Canadian Grenadier Guards) to the memory of its soldiers who fought in Northwest Europe from 1944 to 1945.

Note: This tank is no longer present at the Connaught Range Site. It was reclaimed by the Canadian War Museum and given to an indiviudal in Calgary, AB.

This plaque was unveiled as a tribute to Major-General Sir Alexander Bertram CB, VC, and his contribution to weapons training and competitive military marksmanship.

Born in 1853, Major-General Sir Alexander Bertram began his military career as a bugler with the 13th Regiment (Hamilton) and later rose to command the 77th Wentworth Regiment. In 1905 he was appointed to command 3rd Infantry Brigade, West Ontario and led the Canadian team to the Bisley shooting competition. He was promoted Colonel in 1910 and gazetted Brigadier-General in 1915. He had been previously appointed Deputy Chairman, Imperial Munitions Board in 1914. He received a Knighthood in 1916 for his work during the war, and retired with the rank of Major-General in 1918. First camp commander of Connaught Ranges, Major-General Bertram became president of the Dominion of Canada Rifle Association in 1922 as a result of his ardent advocacy of musketry training. (Source: Prominent People of the Province of Quebec, 1923-24, Montreal, Biographical Society of Canada, Limited)

This range is named in honour of Lieutenant-Colonel Thain Wendell MacDowell VC, DSO (1890-1960).

This memorial road was named in honour of Major-General H.F.G. Letson, CB, CBE, MC, ED, CD (1896 - 1992).

Letson Range is also named in his honour.