Ontario

John Joynt was born in Mayo County, Ireland in November 1854 to John and Ellen Joynt. The family immigrated to Canada about 1865 and after initially settling in Durham County, the Joynt family moved to West Wawanosh. By 1919, John was elected to the provincial legislature as the Conservative member in North Huron, owned 1,400 acres of land and was one of the most prosperous men in the county. Too old to serve in the First World War and having only daughters, he wanted to do something for those that went overseas. He spent the then-considerable sum of $5,000 on a monument to honour those from West Wawanosh who served in the Great War. The Joynt War Memorial, also known as the West Wawanosh Soldiers’ Monument, was the only cenotaph in Huron County paid for entirely by a private individual.

In 1922, Johan donated land and moved the St. Helens community center to the northeast corner of the crossroads where he intended to place the war memorial. On May 24, 1923, Lieutenant-Colonel H.B. Combe, former commander of the 161st Huron Battalion, drew back the Union Jack and unveiled the monument. Seven girls placed bouquets on the monument for each West Wawanosh soldier who fell in battle. Between 3,000 and 4,000 people gathered for the unveiling ceremony. It was the largest gathering ever held before or since at St. Helens. The Women’s Institute purchased 600 loaves of bread and provided sandwiches and lemonade for everyone.

After the Second World War, six names were added to the monument.

This Service Plaque was erected by the local legion in in memory of the men and women who served their country and monarch during the First and Second World Wars, the Korean War and other conflicts.

Princess Margriet of the Netherlands unveiled the Surrender at Wageningen Plaque on May 14, 2017, and signed a scroll of gratitude expressed for the Canadian sacrifice in the Liberation of the Netherlands. 

On 4 May 1945, Field Marshal Bernard Montgomery accepted the official surrender of the German Army in North-West Europe at his headquarters. Then, on 5 May 1945, Lieutenant-General Charles Foulkes, Commander of the First Canadian Army, drew up a separate surrender document and summoned German General Blaskowitz to the Hotel de Wereld in Wageningen to sign it. 

Initially, Blaskowitz sent his chief of staff, Lieutenant-General Reichelt, but he was told Blaskowitz had to come himself. At four o'clock that afternoon, Blaskowitz came to the hotel. Prince Bernhard, acting as commander-in-chief of the Dutch Interior Forces was present, along with a large number of reporters and cameramen.

A detailed document of surrender was presented to Blaskowitz who asked for 24 hours to sign the document to asses if he could meet all of the demands. Blaskowitz returned the next day and signed the official surrender of all German Forces in the Netherlands. After five years of occupation the country was free. Wageningen calls itself  ‘City of Liberation’ and every year on May 4/5, the city commemorates the Second World War and celebrates freedom.

In 2005, the 60th anniversary of the liberation of Holland, a pavilion was erected and unveiled in Liberation Memorial Park. There was a large parade and celebration which included approximately 460 Veterans and caregivers. The pavilion commemorates the 60th anniversary of the liberation of Holland by their friends and heroes the Canadian soldiers. It represents the four corners of Holland by its distinctively different gable ends.

Liberation Memorial Park was developed in 1907 on the occasion of the 25th anniversary of the Liberation of the Netherlands. The park has been a place of celebration of freedom for Dutch Canadian's in Huron County. This is where Princess Margriet of the Netherlands unveiled a plaque on May 14, 2017, and signed a scroll of gratitude expressed for the Canadian sacrifice in the Liberation of the Netherlands where 20 Huron County men gave their lives.

The park was donated by the Dutch immigrants, who settled in this area in the 1950s, as a tribute to the role Canadian soldiers played in the liberation of Holland during the Second World War. The Liberation of the Netherlands Fountain and Liberation of Holland Pavilion are located in the park.

The Rev T.H. Farr, appointed Rector of the Anglican Church in Kincardine from 1915 - 1928, encouraged parishioners to place stained glass windows in the church. The Girl's Guild of the Women's Institute of Kincardine purchased a stained glass memorial window at a cost of $500. It was placed over the altar in the Sanctuary in memory of those killed on active service during the First World War.

The Year of the Veteran Memorial was erected in 2005 by the Royal Canadian Legion Branch 420 and Ladies Auxiliary. 

Bevin Findlay was commissioned in 2015 to produce a digital painting, used as 8' by 16' wall mural for Royal Canadian Legion Branch 109 Goderich. The tribute to Goderich Legion depicts military service personnel serving veterans and the community.

This memorial is dedicated to the memory of those who lost their lives in the Second World War.

Sitting on the grounds of the Huron County Museum the Afghanistan Community Monument is a demilitarized Light Armoured Vehicle Serial Number 372 build in London Ontario by General Dynamics Land Systems in 2000 and was used in Afghanistan. The monument is described as a rough terrain design characterized by armour stone being placed under the wheels giving the appearance of a LAV in motion. The Monument also features a 4' X 4' stone cairn which was constructed from the foundation stone of the Goderich Victoria Street United Church built in 1878 and destroyed by an F3 tornado in August of 2011. The cairn also contains a piece of dark grey marble 3" X 6" which once formed part of the original Kandahar Cenotaph located in Kandahar Airfield, Kandahar Afghanistan.

The Monument was championed by the Royal Canadian Legion Branch 109 (Goderich) and formally dedicated on October 1st. 2016 by the 29th. Lieutenant Govenor of Ontario, the Honourable Elizabeth Dowdeswell OC, OOnt.