Ontario

The Brighton Cenotaph was unveiled on October 20, 2012.  The main central stele is flanked by two smaller stela and is dedicated to the memory of past soldiers and in honour of current serving and future soldiers. It replaces a cenotaph dedicated in 1927 by General Sir Arthur Currie, that was decommissioned in May 2012 and respectfully dismantled.

Excerpt from May/June 2013 LEGION MAGAZINE, Page 71:

BRIGHTON MONUMENT PASSES THE TORCH

A new monument paying tribute to all Canadians who served and died in war and peacekeeping has been erected in the town of Brighton, Ont.

The project was a joint project of the Municipality of Brighton, about 150 kilometers east of Toronto, and Brighton Branch of The Royal Canadian Legion. The unveiling was the conclusion of a two-year project for a branch committee headed by Ian Douglas, a retired brigadier-general and the first vice of Bright Beach.

The cenotaph stands in Memorial Park in the community of about 1,100, near Canadian Forces Base Trenton, the start of the Highway of Heroes. It replaces a cenotaph which had been dedicated in 1927 by Sir Arthur Currie who led the Canadian Corps during the First World War. The earlier monument was decommissioned in May and respectfully dismantled to make way for the new monument with the theme, Passing The Torch From Generation To Generation.

Standing about 15 feet high, the monument is made of granite from Stanstead, Que., and Vermont. A torch is engraved at the top of the monument followed by the Act of Remembrance in both official languages.

Every military operation Canada has been involved in since Confederation has also been engraved on the monument. A new walkway and three flagpoles have been added to the site.

The committee submitted a business plan to Veterans Affairs Canada which provided funding up to $50,000 from its Community War Memorial Program. The funding matched a grant from the municipality and money raised from local people who donated $150 to have a brick along the walkway engraved with the name of a family member who died or served in Canada’s military.

The monument was dedicated Oct. 20 in a ceremony attended by Minister of State and Chief Government Whip Gordon O’Connor representing the federal government and Mayor Mark Walas. The Legion was represented by District Commander Kelvin Warren and Brighton Ladies Auxiliary President Astrida Chalmers. Members of the 1^st Canadian Parachute Battalion army cadet corps carried on a Canadian flag to start the service.

Speaking at the ceremony was Sergeant Stephen Drinkwater, an Afghanistan veteran. “While it is an honour to be recognized by the citizens of Brighton and our fellow Canadians through the dedication of this monument, which honours past, current and future soldiers, it is important to recognize that no soldier stands alone,” he said. “I speak for all [in the military] when I say thank you for your recognition and support.”

Campbellford Memorial Hospital is dedicated to those who served in the Second World War and those who paid the supreme sacrifice in service.

A memorial erected by Our Lady of Mount Carmel Roman Catholic Church to remember those men from this congregation who gave their lives in the two World Wars. The granite shaft, adorned with a golden angel, was originally placed in the walkway leading to the front doors of  the church, but is now located on the grass beside the walkway.

The Alderville First Nation Cenotaph was unveiled on September 25, 1927, to some 3,000 people to commemorate those who gave so much in the First World War. It was the first structure erected in Canada to commemorate Indigenous service in the First World War. A war in which the Alderville band had one of the highest per capita enlistments in Canada.

The cenotaph was constructed in 1927 by Alf McKeel and Son of Campbellford who supplied the design and donated the materials for the project, while the hard physical labour was supplied by many volunteers. The Indigenous men of Alderville used hand shovels and a lot of muscle power to stir the cement which makes up the cenotaph. Four hundred and sixty-eight tons of concrete was poured raising this unique design to almost 50 feet. The women spent hours cooking and supplying meals for these hardworking volunteers.

McKeel had already constructed a smaller monument in 1923 at Trent River and this basic design followed on a larger scale at Alderville. A description of the design elements of the monument are described on a plaque beside it. 

The cube on the very top symbolizes the four corners of the earth. The three globes beneath the cube symbolize the holy trinity. The three large pillars supporting the above symbolize the three holy virtues - faith, hope and charity. The square base on which the cenotaph stands, symbolizes the four freedoms - freedom of speech; freedom of religion; freedom from fear and freedom of the press. The nine large cubes situated around the cenotaph represent the nine men who were killed in the First World War. The chain that is comprised of 35 links that encloses the cenotaph and is fastened to the nine cubes represents the 35 residents who served in that war and at the same time represents eternity.  

Originally built to honour the 33 Alderville men who enlisted in the First World War, including the nine who gave their lives, it now commemorates the contributions made by Alderville during the Second World War, Korean War, Vietnam War and peacetime. Restoration of the cenotaph was completed in May 1992 as a  co-operative project of the Alderville First Nation and the Rotary Club of Cobourg. A further restoration was completed in 2000 as part of a Millennium Project.

This monument is dedicated to the sons and daughters of the Hope Township who served their country. It was erected by the Hope Township Cenotaph Remembrance Day Committee on September 18, 1988. The slash in the top of the stone represents a balance between war and peace and a movement towards heaven. Every Remembrance Day rocks are added to the stone wall behind the monument which represents the deaths from armed conflict.

This memorial is dedicated to those seamen who lost their lives in HMCS Skeena on October 25, 1944. It was erected by the Skeena survivors, their families and Northumberland Branch, Navy League of Canada. A Skeena Reunion and Dedication was held in Port Hope, October 20 to 23, 2000. Most veterans of Skeena I-59, Skeena 2nd and some from Port Hope and Cobourg attended. Ted Maidman, the veterans' representative on the Reunion Committee, enrolled a number of veterans to march with the Cadet Corps on the Saturday. The weather was warm and sunny with cloudless skies and lovely autumn colours. The last of the chinook salmon were working their up the Ganaraska River. It runs right through the middle of Port Hope. On its west side are the Town Hall and Cenotaph, and a four minute stroll via a footbridge takes you to the Skeena Building on the east. All gathered at the Town Hall on the Saturday to look at photographs and memorabilia that attendees brought. Mayor Ron Smith joined the reunion. RAdm David Morse arrived from RMC, where he is Commandant. He had very fond memories of his time in command of Skeena 2nd. At 11:00 the Cadet Corps with band and colour party marched over to the Town Hall via a road bridge. The CO hammered thrice on the door with the hilt of her sword. The Mayor emerged and inspected the Corps. All gathered at the Cenotaph where old Skeenas Don German and Ted Maidman laid a wreath. Then the approximately 30 veterans fell in with the Corps for a rousing march through the centre of Town, to the Skeena Building. After lunch, the Town blocked off the street and seating was arranged for three hundred on the roadway for the Dedication Ceremony. Among Skeena veterans the earliest was David Freeman of Victoria who served her in 1934, the most recent was Chief Petty Officer David Brennan, the last Cox'n of Skeena 2nd (1993) and still in the Navy, who came from Halifax. The Band of the Royal Marine Association of Ontario from Cobourg played splendidly through the afternoon. The Admiral, exchanging his brass hat for his CO Skeena 207 peaked cap, spoke exceptionally well. The senior Cadet made a presentation to him from the Corps. He responded by giving his cap and a copy of the ship's commissioning booklet. Then Max Ferguson continued as master of ceremonies. O Canada was sung and the Memorials were dedicated. The first, a family memorial to Commander F.W.R. Angus OBE RCNVR, was dedicated by his son Ian Angus. Next came the two large front windows which the towns of Port Hope and Cobourg had restored in memory of the Bangor 'sweeper and the corvette of the same names. Mayors Joan Chalovich and Ron Smith, unveiled plaques secured to the brick beneath each window. Then the Skeena Memorial Plaque, covered by the White Ensign which had flown in the ship in 1944, was unveiled by Dorothy Watson French, sister of Leonard Watson, and Ritchie Seath brother of Andrew Seath, who were among those lost. Their shipmate, Ed Parsons read out the inscription with each name marked by the toll of the Corps' bell. The Last Post sounded, a long silence, and Reveille. Reverend Richard Davidson then led the prayers. As the Chaplain of 162 Squadron RCAF stationed in Iceland he had buried Skeena's dead in Fossvogur Cemetery on 28th October 1944. He recalled that time, evoking the scene with profound personal emotion and he then led the prayers concluding with the Naval Prayer and Eternal Father. Presentation to the Corps of significant items from the ship by those who had retrieved them 56 years ago followed: the White Ensign from Al Lake of Edmonton; the commissioning pennant from Ted Maidman which he had beautifully framed; and the ship's wheel from Bill McPhillips of London, Ontario. Bill Brown of Ottawa, who commanded Skeena 2nd in 1967-69 and had taken her to Iceland for a memorial service, unveiled the stained glass window over the entrance depicting RCSCC Skeena's badge and the motto "Go Forth". It was created by Port Hope stained glass artist Chris Montgomery. It is identical to Skeena's 2nd badge and motto except, in accordance with the sealed pattern, the maple leaves are red versus green and the name Skeena is black on gold rather than in the ship's colours which were blue on white.

Needs further research.

The Champlain's War Party Plaque was erected in 1960.

St. Peter’s was the regimental church for the 40th Northumberland Regiment and their Colours were deposited in the church on November 25, 1923. The 40th Northumberland Battalion of Infantry was authorized to be formed in Cobourg, Ontario on 5 October 1866 and re-designated 40th Northumberland Regiment on 8 May 1900.

In earlier times, Colours played a prominent part in many battles. They served to identify units in battle, often marking the focal point of a struggle. Captured Colours were a prized trophy and attracted enemy attention and inspired much gallantry. By the late 19^th and 20^th Century, however, they were no longer carried in battle, but their status as the heart and soul of a Regiment continued, and the laying up of Colours signifies and helps keep holy the memories of the men who sacrificed their lives.

The Bewdley Cenotaph is dedicated to those who served in the First and Second World Wars. It was erected by the Royal Canadian Legion Branch 577 of Bewdley.