Ontario

In February 1921, eight paintings commissioned by Lord Beaverbrook for the Canadian War Memorials Fund during the First World War were hung in the Senate Chamber on Parliament Hill in Ottawa. The paintings are fixed to the east and west walls at a height of approximately seven meters. Ranging in size from 2. 7 x 3.6 m to 3.0 x 4.5 m, they have formed an imposing backdrop to the Senate's deliberations ever since the first meeting was held in the new Chamber on 14 February 1921.

The eight paintings are; The Watch on the Rhine (The Last Phase) by Sir William Rothenstein; A Mobile Veterinary Unit in France by Algernon Talmage; Arras. the Dead City by James Kerr-Lawson; On Leave by Clare Atwood; Canadian Railway Construction by Leonard Richmond; Returning to the Reconquered Land by Sir George Clausen; Landing of the First Canadian Division at SaintNazaire, 1915, by Edgar Bundy; and The Cloth Hall, Ypres by James Kerr-Lawson.

In the 1960s, the paintings were given a thorough cleaning and revarnishing. The work was performed again in the centre of the Senate Chamber, between 4 July and 28 August 1998, while the Senate was in recess. During this eight week period, the eight oversize paintings had to be taken down, examined, treated, photographed and reinstalled, allowing only one week per painting. The total cost for the restoration and professional photography was $66,000. The rededication of the newly-restored paintings took place on 3 November 1998.

This war memorial window honours Sub Lieutenant Gary Edward Logan, who died in military service.

This plaque, affixed to a bench, was unveiled in memory of Lieutenant Leslie Ward, Royal Canadian Naval Volunteer Reserve. All Saints' Anglican Church Westboro shares a building with First United Church.

Leslie Ward was born in 1908 in Toronto. Little is known of his life in Toronto other than he was married and his wife continued to reside there after Ward joined the Royal Canadian Naval Volunteer Reserve. Following the completion of his training, Ward was assigned to HMCS Athabaskan, remaining with the ship throughout the war. Lieutenant Leslie Ward was killed and lost at sea on 29 April 1944, when his ship was torpedoed by German torpedo boat T-24, off the coast of France.  Leslie Ward was 36 years old and is commemorated on the Halifax Memorial.

HMCS Athabaskan was commissioned in Feb 1943 and assigned to the British Home Fleet. In March 1943, she sailed for her first mission patrolling the Iceland-Faeroes Passage area and in Jun 1943, she took part in OP GEARBOX III, the relief of the garrison at Spitsbergen. In Jul and Aug 1943 she was based at Plymouth, carrying out anti-submarine patrols in the Bay of Biscay, and on 27 Aug 1943 was hit by a glider bomb off the Spanish coast. Athabaskan managed to reach Devonport, where she remained under repair until Nov 1943. During the Dec – Jan period , she escorted three convoys after which she returned to Plymouth Command. On 26 Apr 1944 she assisted in the destruction of German torpedo boat T-29 in the Channel off Ushant, and three days later was sunk by a torpedo from T-24 north of Ile de Batz. Her captain and 128 men were lost; among them was Lt Ward.

This street is dedicated to the founding of the Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry at Lansdowne Park in August 1914. It was named by the City of Ottawa in September 2014 as part of the centennial celebrations of the Regiment.

Excerpt from the PPCLI regimental history: "The Regiment was born during August of 1914 in Ottawa, Ontario as a result of the offer from Captain Andrew Hamilton Gault to provide $100,000 to finance and equip a battalion for overseas service.

On 6 August 1914 Captain Gault’s offer was provisionally accepted by the Canadian Government. Authority was granted on 10 August 1914 to raise and equip an infantry battalion, with the remainder of the cost being defrayed by the Department of Militia and Defence.

On 10 August 1914 the Charter of the Regiment was signed and the next day mobilization began. Veteran soldiers flocked from every part of Canada to enlist. Eight days later the new Regiment had a full complement of experienced officers and men. Out of 1,098 all ranks, 1,049 had seen previous service in South Africa or with the regular forces of the British Empire. Almost every unit in the British Army was represented in addition to personnel from both the Royal Navy and Marines.

LCol Francis D. Farquhar, DSO, an officer of the Coldstream Guards who was Military Secretary to His Royal Highness, The Duke of Connaught and Strathearn, The Governor-General of Canada, was selected to command the new battalion.

LCol Farquhar suggested that the Regiment bear the name of the Duke’s youngest daughter, Her Royal Highness Princess Patricia of Connaught. The request was made to the Princess, who graciously consented to the Regiment bearing her name. The “Light Infantry” came about because Captain Gault, a veteran of the South African War, liked the “Irregular Feel” it gave to the Regiment.

The full title of Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry was too long for everyday use, and the new unit became known as “PPCLI”, with “PPs” or “Pip Pips”, as the most common variants. The Regiment was best known to the general public as the “Princess Pats” or merely the “Pats”, but this partial abbreviation is discouraged within the Regiment which now prefers to be known as the “Patricias”."

The Assembly of Remembrance was unveiled in 1927, created by artist Frank S.J. Hollister and constructed by Cowan & Hollister. Frank S.J. Hollister of Toronto, spent four years in active service during the Great War. Preliminary drawings, accompanied by a description of each window, were prepared and presented to the Department of Public Works for approval by Order in Council, in 1925. 

The window represents a multitude of people gathered in remembrance of their country's heroic dead.

The first winged figure in the upper section represents the Archangel Michael bearing a trumpet, signifying call to battle in the cause of righteousness. Immediately above his head, a woman seated with children at her knee, symbolizes the inescapable implication of women and children in sacrifices endured in defence of liberty, honour and justice.

In the upper portion of the second panel, St. George slays the dragon, representing the power of right over tyranny. In the third panel, the figure of Justice bears the great sword of judgement and the scales of justice; her sword-guard bears a figure outstretched as in the Crucifixion, symbolizing the sufferings borne both by the victors and the vanquished. Below this figure, a folded ribbon surrounding a shield bears the inscription JUSTITIA LIBERTAS PERPETUO.

The fourth figure represents Joan of Arc, symbolic of France. She bears a banner and a shield, with the arms of Royal France behind her.

In the lower part of the first panel, an armoured figure bears in his hands the Crown of Victory. In the second panel, another armoured figure holds a large flambeau. The inscription here is taken from lines written by Laurence Binyon: AT THE GOING DOWN OF THE SUN AND IN THE MORNING WE WILL REMEMBER THEM. The other base inscription (from Pericles) of this window reads: FREEDOM IS THE SURE POSSESSION OF THOSE ALONE WHO HAVE COURAGE TO DEFEND IT.

In the third panel of the window's lower section is the heroic figure of Canada, armoured and helmed, contemplative yet sorrowful, looking down at the Book of Remembrance, holding in her hand the victors' laurel wreath. Behind her stand two figures, symbolic of Canadian Motherhood and First Peoples.

All four of the shield stained glass windows located outside the entrance to the Memorial Chamber were designed by Frank Hollister, who had spent four years in active service during the Great War, and constructed by Cowan & Hollister in 1928.

This window has a white shield with red saltire representing the cross of Saint Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland, and is complemented with helmet and shamrock. The Latin inscription on the window translates to: Courageous even to death.

The Call to Arms was unveiled in 1927, created by artist Frank S.J. Hollister and constructed by Cowan & Hollister. Frank S.J. Hollister of Toronto, spent four years in active service during the Great War. Preliminary drawings, accompanied by a description of each window, were prepared and presented to the Department of Public Works for approval by Order in Council, in 1925. 

The four figures in the upper part of the window represent:

• Victory - a woman holding a crown, surrounded with a laurel branch and helmet on shield.
• Labour - a figure surrounded by symbols such as a shovel, astrolabe and spinning-wheel, with the motto Fortitudo Industria et Pax;
• Progress - man holding a book and quill, with other symbols such as a celestial crown, galley, scales and hourglass.
• Science - a figure holding a microscope and flask, with a ribbon above his head indicating Metallurgy, Mineralogy and Chemistry, and accompanied by symbols such as a globe and a torch.

In the lower part, the figures holding spears and shields represent the people of Canada, gathered in response to the sounding of the trumpet.

In the second panel, a man holding sword and trumpet calls "To Arms"; at his side a child holds flowers in a scene evoking faith and courage. In the next panel, immediately below the trumpet's bell, stands a figure representing the many women who worked tirelessly ministering to the wounded and needy, while also sharing the dangers and deprivations of wartime. She bears a rod entwined with winged serpents, symbolic of her work as a healer.

In the background, a marching host of men and horses gather from field and farm, office and factory, while a fleet of ships sails forth to fulfill its duty.

The window includes coat of arms of the United Kingdom, Canada and provinces.

This plaque commemorates Canada's participation in the Royal Flying Corps, during the First World War.

Located over the doorway to the Memorial Chamber, this tympanum pays tribute to animals that served during the war – reindeer, pack mules, carrier pigeons, horses, dogs, canaries and mice.

It was designed by John A. Pearson and carved into Indiana limestone by Cléophas Soucy in 1927.

This memorial was unveiled in honour of the members of the Chalmers Presbyterian Church who served in the First World War.

The memorial consists of a large upper plaque on which are inscribed the names of the members who died in the First World War and four lower plaques on which are inscribed, in columns, the names of those who served during the First World War.