Ontario

This plaque was placed in St. Paul's Cathedral in memory of Lieutenant Frederick Courtney Raymond, Canadian Engineeers. 

Frederick Courtney Raymond was born on 23 October 1890 in London, Ontario. After completing his schooling in London, he went on to study architecture and practiced in this field for a few years before joining the military. He was assigned to the Canadian Engineers and embarked for overseas duty in autumn 1916, arriving at the Canadian Engineers Training Depot at Crowborough in October 1916. On 30 March 1917, he was admitted to St. George’s Hospital in London; he died the following day at the age of 27. Frederick Courtney Raymond is buried at Brookwood Military Cemetery, south-west of London.

This plaque is dedicated to the memory of Lieutenant Colonel Henry Campbell Becher and Major Archibald Valancey Becher.

Henry Campbell Becher was born on 20 January 1874 in London, Ontario. He attended Trinity College in Port Hope before studying law. He practiced law for some years before becoming a stockbroker but throughout his professional career, he displayed an interest in military affairs. In 1899, he joined the 7th Fusiliers in London, later becoming its Commanding Officer. In September 1914, he enlisted in the Canadian Expeditionary Force and was appointed Deputy Commanding Officer of the 1st Battalion, then stationed in Valcartier, QC. The Battalion sailed on 25 September 1914, arriving in England on 14 October. Following some training, the unit was transferred to France in February 1915 and was among those units gassed at Ypres in April 1915. Henry Campbell Becher was killed at Givenchy on 15 June 1915 when he was hit by a bullet having first sustained major injuries to his legs. He is buried at Beuvry Communal Cemetery.

Archibald Valancey Becher was born on 03 August 1877 in London, Ontario. Little is known of his upbringing though records indicate that he was a member of the first Canadian contingent to sail for the South African War, serving as a sergeant with B Company, Royal Canadian Regiment. Upon his return from South Africa, he studied medecine at the University of Western Ontario and embarked upon a medical career. Shortly after the outbreak of the First World War, he joined the Canadian Army Medical Corps and was appointed Medical Officer for the 33rd Battalion, Canadian Expeditionary Force. Stationed at The Citadel in Quebec City with the 33rd Battalion, Major Archibald Becher contracted double pneumonia and died on 25 December 1915. He is buried at the London (Woodland) Cemetery.

McKenzie Block is named in honour of Thomas McKenzie, the first soldier to enroll in the Infantry School Corps thereby becoming the first soldier to join the permanent Infantry forces of Canada. 

Thomas McKenzie was born in 1830 in Gibralter, the son of Sergeant Duncan McKenzie of the 94th Regiment. Thomas joined the 64th Regiment (North Staffordshire Regiment) at the age of eleven as a bugler and drummer. In 1849, the 64th was posted to India; while there, Thomas was promoted to corporal in 1851 and to sergeant in 1854. In 1856, Sergeant McKenzie participated in the Persian War and later saw action at the reliefs of Cawnpore and Lucknow, during the India Mutiny (1857-59). In 1861, the British Army asked for volunteers to go to British North America to train the militia and McKenzie was selected.

Sergeant McKenzie arrived in Saint John, NB in February 1862, and was employed training militia units in New Brunswick, primarily the 62nd Battalion of the New Brunswick Militia. He was mobilized as the Regimental Sergeant Major with the Saint John Volunteer Battalion during the Fenian threat in 1865/66. In 1868, he was formally discharged from the British Army but remained in Canada.

In 1871, McKenzie was employed as a Militia Stores Keeper, living in Fredericton with his family. When the Canadian Government established a Military School of Instruction at Fredericton in 1872, McKenzie was selected as the school’s drill instructor, and served in this capacity for the next eleven years. In December 1883, the Canadian Government established its first regular (permanent) infantry unit, called the Infantry School Corps. McKenzie joined the Corps as its first member on 7 January 1884, and was appointed the Corps Regimental Sergeant Major, a position he held until he retired in 1895. After retirement he served as custodian of the Fredericton Armouries and Military Compound. He died on 26 February 1910, and is buried in the Rural Cemetery in Fredericton.

This memorial is dedicated to the memory of Lieutenant Robert Hugh Douglas.

Robert Hugh Douglas was born in London ON on 19 January 1922. The only son of Major A.R. Douglas, KC and Mrs. Douglas, he completed his education at Ridley College, in St. Catharines ON, and the University of Western Ontario. A member of the Canadian Fusiliers, he proceeded overseas in April 1943. Upon arrival in England, he was transferred to the Royal Canadian Regiment, serving with them in England, Sicily and Italy. As a member of the RCR, he took part in the Moro River Campaign, which raged on from 4 to 26 December 1943.

The 1st Canadian Infantry Division was to cross the Moro River and capture Ortona. The attack encountered fierce resistance from the Germans and had particular difficulties in an area called “The Gully”, close to Casa Berardi. On 18 December after a lengthy artillery barrage, the RCR moved in to attack “The Gully”. However, the Germans had returned to their positions and their devastating machine gun fire held off the RCR. In C Company alone, every platoon commander was either killed or wounded. It was during this attack that Lieutenant Robert Hugh Douglas would be wounded and die of his injuries, on 19 December 1943. He is buried at the Moro River Canadian War Cemetery.

This aircraft is dedicated to the memory of all who served with 420 Fighter Squadron

This scroll commemorates the graduates of Huron College who served during the Second World War.

This scroll commemorates the students of Huron College who served during the Second World War.

This plaque pays tribute to the Canadian Army units that were once housed at the London Armouries. 

For numerous decades, London had been home to a large British Army contingent garrisoned in the area that was to become Victoria Park. Starting in 1869, these troops were slowly withdrawn, leaving the defense of the country to the Canadian Militia. When the former British garrison buildings were destroyed by fire, a drill shed was built for the local Militia units.

After a few years, this installation became inadequate and a new armoury was built at the corner of Dundas and Waterloo streets. Opened with great fanfare on 1 February 1905, over the years the Armoury was home to numerous Militia units including the 1^st Hussars, units of the Royal Canadian Artillery and Royal Canadian Engineers, the Royal Canadian Regiment, the Royal Canadian Army Service Corps and the Royal Canadian Army Medical Corps. Unfortunately the Armoury had to be closed and on 4 June 1978, the Canadian flag was lowered for the last time marking its official closure. For years, the building stood empty and its demolition seemed imminent. However, in 1988 a developer converted the building into a luxury hotel, keeping the exterior walls and constructing a twenty storey tower in the centre of the building. Today, the Delta London Armouries Hotel is one of the most sought after lodging in the city.

This plaque is dedicated to the memory of Captain Alfred Edwin "Eddie" McKay, Royal Flying Corps. 

Alfred Edwin McKay was born in December 1892 in Brussels, ON, a small town approximately 80 km north of London, ON. After completing his schooling in Brussels, he moved to London to enroll in a Faculty of Arts program at the University of Western Ontario. While at Western, McKay excelled at sports and was an important member of their 1915 Canadian Junior Championship rugby team.

By March 1916, McKay had joined the military and completed his flight training before starting his service with the Royal Flying Corps where he was assigned to 24 Squadron. By January 1917, he had scored four victories, was promoted to Captain and transferred as a flight instructor. After several months as an instructor, he returned to operational flying with 23 Squadron and had the distinction of being pursued by Manfred von Richthofen (the “Red Baron”) during a dog-fight with Oswald Boelke, Richthofen’s mentor. He survived this encounter and by mid-December 1917, had scored a further 6 victories and earned the title of “flying ace”. On 28 December 1917, the day after his 25^th birthday, McKay was shot down behind enemy lines in Belgium. He is commemorated on the Arras Memorial honouring those who have no known graves.

This memorial commemorates the members of the Huron College community who gave their lives in WW I and WW II.