Ontario

The St. Philip’s Cemetery memorial is dedicated to military veterans interred at St Philip’s Cemetery. It is interesting to note that Captain George Thew Burke, leader of the advance party of disbanded British soldiers who settled Richmond in 1818, is interred in the historical section of this cemetery. The memorial was unveiled in 2005 by the Royal Canadian Legion Richmond and District Branch #625.

The St. Paul’s Cemetery memorial is dedicated to military veterans interred at St. Paul’s Cemetery.

The St John’s Anglican Cemetery Memorial is dedicated to military veterans interred at St John’s Anglican Cemetery. It is interesting to note that several disbanded British soldiers who settled Richmond in 1818 are interred in this cemetery.

The St. Andrew’s Cemetery memorial is dedicated to military veterans interred at St. Andrew’s Cemetery. It was unveiled in 2005 by the Royal Canadian Legion Richmond and District Branch #625.

Cockburn Street is named in honour of Lieutenant Colonel (later General Sir) Francis Cockburn. Francis Cockburn was born in 1780 in England and joined the British Army at the age of 19. He served in South America and the Iberian Peninsula before arriving in Canada in 1811. He led numerous successful raids against the American forces during the War of 1812.

By 1818, as a Lieutenant-Colonel serving in Quebec City, he was made responsible for the military settlements in Upper Canada, including Richmond. He took on a great personal interest in the military settlements and the potential prosperity of the district. He returned to England in 1823, but continued to be involved in Canadian matters, providing reports and advice to a British parliamentary committee looking at assisted emigration. Cockburn recommended strong government support of emigration, including an 18-month supply of provisions for settles. He suggested settlement in the Gaspé and Ottawa regions and between lakes Simcoe and Huron, as well as along a line of communication between New Brunswick and Lower Canada.

In 1829 Cockburn was ordered to British Honduras, where from 1830 to 1837, he was superintendent of the colony. From 1837 to 1844 he served as governor and commander-in-chief of the Bahamas, knighted in 1841, made Major-General in 1846, Lieutenant-General in 1854 and General in 1860. He died in 1868.

Burke Street is named in honour of Captain George Thew Burke, who lead the advance party to establish the Richmond Military Settlement in 1818, and who became head of the settlement.

George Thew Burke was born in Ballyartella, County Tipperary, Ireland, in 1776. He joined the British Army at the age of 22 and served in Egypt. Upon his return to Ireland, he was employed in the recruiting services and was instrumental in raising the 100^th Regiment of Foot. As a Company commander and staff in the 100^th Regiment, he served throughout the War of 1812, and was present at the hard fought battles of Sackett’s Harbour, Chateauguay and Queenston Heights. He was then appointed to the Posts of Deputy – Assistant Quarter Master General and Brigade Major at Quebec.

Upon the disbandment of the 99^th Regiment of Foot in 1818 (the 100^th Regiment had been renamed the 99^th in 1816), he travelled to the Jock River area near present-day Ottawa, with the former soldiers of the 99^th who had received free land grants and elected to remain in Canada. He headed the advance party that laid out the Richmond Military Settlement and became head of the settlement. Burke served in the Carleton militia and was named colonel in 1822. He became a justice of the peace in the Johnstown District in 1819 and in the Bathurst District in 1822. Burke represented Carelton in the Legislative Assembly of Upper Canada from 1819 to 1828. He died in Bytown in 1854 and is buried in the historical section of St Philip’s Cemetery in Richmond.

Colonel Murray Street is named in honour of Colonel (later Major-General) John Murray a senior officer with the 99^th Regiment of Foot who established the Richmond Military Settlement in 1818. Colonel John Murray was born in Jamaica and joined the British Army’s 37^th Regiment of Foot in 1792. He saw action in the Netherlands, Gibraltar and the West Indies, rising to the rank of Major.

In 1804 he transferred as a Lieutenant-Colonel to the newly formed 100^th Regiment of Foot and shortly afterwards sailed to British North America. The 100^th Regiment garrisoned Quebec City and Montreal, but with the outbreak of the War of 1812, was sent to the Niagara area. There in the late 1813, Colonel Murray recaptured Fort George and went on to capture Fort Niagara.

With the end of the War of 1812 and the cessation of the Napoleonic Wars, the British Army set about reducing the number of regiments. As a result, the 100^th Regiment of Foot was renamed the 99^th Regiment of Foot and later disbanded in 1818, while garrisoned in Quebec City. Disbanded soldiers were offered land, tools, and rations to remain in Canada. Between 300 and 400 soldiers of the 99^th Regiment accepted this offer and traveled to the Jock River area to establish the Richmond Military Settlement.

It does not appear that Colonel Murray accompanied them to Richmond, but the naming of the street in his honour is more likely due to his senior position within the 99^th at the time of its disbandment. The cadre of the 99^th Regiment, including Colonel Murray, returned to England. He died in 1832.

This street commemorates Trooper Brian Good, a member of the Royal Canadian Dragoons, who was killed January 7, 2009, while serving with the 3rd Battalion Royal Canadian Regiment Battle Group's Reconnaissance Squadron in Afghanistan.

Trooper Good enlisted in the Canadian Forces on October 21, 2005 at the age of 39. He served as a member of the Royal Canadian Dragoons based out of Canadian Forces Base Petawawa and was assigned to Joint Task Force Afghanistan at Kandahar in September 2008. Trooper Good’s assignment abruptly came to an end on January 7, 2009 when he was killed by a roadside bomb in the Shah Wali District of Afghanistan. At only 43 years old, he is survived by his wife Sandra and their two teenage daughters, Jessica and Kayla.

Paul Métivier (6 July 1900 - 22 December 2004) was born in Montreal. In March 1917 he enlisted in the Canadian Army at the age of 16, and served overseas in Belgium and France until May 1918. When Private Métivier's true age was discovered, he was sent back to England where he served until he was repatriated to Canada in October 1918.

For his military service he was awarded the British War and Victory medals as well as a Class A Service Badge. Mr. Métivier joined the Public Service of Canada in 1920 and worked for the Department of Mines and Technical Surveys (now known as Natural Resources Canada). While with the Public Service, Paul enlisted in the 1st Corps Field Survey Company, RCE (Ottawa) and rose to the rank of Staff Sergeant, but to his great disappointment, was considered too old to remain with the unit when it was activated for service in September 1939.

Mr. Métivier received the French Legion of Honour and a certificate of appreciation for his selfless contribution to the war effort, signed by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth.

Veterans' Way is dedicated to those who served their countries in times of war, peace and peacekeeping. There is a dedication plaque at the start of the pathway of interlocking bricks and close to 200 bricks in the walkway dedicated to individual Veterans or military units. The pathway leads from the Manotick Cenotaph to the Watson's Mill.