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Sergeant Tommy Prince was a prominent Anishinaabe activist who served in the Second World War and Korean War. His story is one of the most widely known examples of the wartime contributions of Indigenous soldiers in the mid-20^th century and the poor treatment they received upon their return to civilian life in Canada. His accomplishments attracted national media attention during his lifetime and earned him a great many posthumous tributes.

Prince was born in October 1915 in St. Peter's Reserve, Manitoba. He was the great-grandson of respected Ojibwa Chief Peguis, and one of eleven children born to Elizabeth and Henry Prince. In 1920, they moved to Brokenhead Ojibway Nation in Scanterbury, Manitoba. At age five, Prince was forced to leave his community and attend Elkhorn Residential School, where he joined the Cadet Corps. He suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder from the residential school before he joined the military.

In 1940, he volunteered to fight for Canada in the Second World War. He rose from sapper to lance corporal with the Royal Canadian Engineers before volunteering for the 1^st Canadian Parachute Battalion in 1942. Soon after, he was assigned to the elite 1^st Canadian Special Service Battalion, which was attached to the First Special Service Force (Devil’s Brigade). He reached the rank of sergeant by war’s end, and was one of three Canadians to receive both the Silver Star (United States) and the Military Medal. King George VI presented him with both honours during a ceremony at Buckingham Palace in 1945, shortly before Prince’s discharge from the army. 

He wanted to prove his people were as good as any white man and restore their good name. One way to achieve this was to acquire as many medals as possible and he did so without putting his men at risk. Before any patrols he would ensure they were camouflaged and everything was secured. Often he would patrol alone because there would be less noise. Prince was a natural warrior and he excelled as the military developed the skills he learned on the reserve while living off the land. He loved the Devil's Brigade and was always praising his men, "If it wasn't for my men, I wouldn't be who I am today." He was a caring man who loved to joke around and make people laugh.

He was a prominent leader in the Indigenous rights movement of the 1940s. After the war, he served as spokesperson and vice-president of the Manitoba Indian Association, and appeared on its behalf before a Special Joint Committee of the Senate and House of Commons, tasked with studying the Indian Act. During his testimony in 1947, he advocated for the abolition of the Indian Act and respect for existing treaties, and presented submissions from Indigenous in Manitoba, which called for improved schools, better living conditions, and expanded hunting, trapping, and fishing rights.

In 1950, Prince re-enlisted in the Korean War. He contributed to the defence of Hill 677 in the Battle of Kapyong in 1951, for which the United States awarded the Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry the Distinguished Unit Citation—the only time a Canadian unit has received this honour. Military service took a heavy toll on his health and, following his honourable discharge from the army, he faced a difficult return to civilian life in Manitoba. Prince endured discrimination, illness, and poverty in the years that followed and died in 1977. He fought many demons after residential school and the horrors of combat, but he never lost his humility, self-worth, sense of humour and pride of being Anishinaabe. 

The Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry Battle School Drill Hall Building 211 was renamed the Tommy Prince Drill Hall in March 1982.

Sergeant Tommy Prince was a prominent Anishinaabe activist who served in the Second World War and Korean War. His story is one of the most widely known examples of the wartime contributions of Indigenous soldiers in the mid-20^th century and the poor treatment they received upon their return to civilian life in Canada. His accomplishments attracted national media attention during his lifetime and earned him a great many posthumous tributes.

Prince was born in October 1915 in St. Peter's Reserve, Manitoba. He was the great-grandson of respected Ojibwa Chief Peguis, and one of eleven children born to Elizabeth and Henry Prince. In 1920, they moved to Brokenhead Ojibway Nation in Scanterbury, Manitoba. At age five, Prince was forced to leave his community and attend Elkhorn Residential School, where he joined the Cadet Corps. He suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder from the residential school before he joined the military.

In 1940, he volunteered to fight for Canada in the Second World War. He rose from sapper to lance corporal with the Royal Canadian Engineers before volunteering for the 1^st Canadian Parachute Battalion in 1942. Soon after, he was assigned to the elite 1^st Canadian Special Service Battalion, which was attached to the First Special Service Force (Devil’s Brigade). He reached the rank of sergeant by war’s end, and was one of three Canadians to receive both the Silver Star (United States) and the Military Medal. King George VI presented him with both honours during a ceremony at Buckingham Palace in 1945, shortly before Prince’s discharge from the army. 

He wanted to prove his people were as good as any white man and restore their good name. One way to achieve this was to acquire as many medals as possible and he did so without putting his men at risk. Before any patrols he would ensure they were camouflaged and everything was secured. Often he would patrol alone because there would be less noise. Prince was a natural warrior and he excelled as the military developed the skills he learned on the reserve while living off the land. He loved the Devil's Brigade and was always praising his men, "If it wasn't for my men, I wouldn't be who I am today." He was a caring man who loved to joke around and make people laugh.

He was a prominent leader in the Indigenous rights movement of the 1940s. After the war, he served as spokesperson and vice-president of the Manitoba Indian Association, and appeared on its behalf before a Special Joint Committee of the Senate and House of Commons, tasked with studying the Indian Act. During his testimony in 1947, he advocated for the abolition of the Indian Act and respect for existing treaties, and presented submissions from Indigenous in Manitoba, which called for improved schools, better living conditions, and expanded hunting, trapping, and fishing rights.

In 1950, Prince re-enlisted in the Korean War. He contributed to the defence of Hill 677 in the Battle of Kapyong in 1951, for which the United States awarded the Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry the Distinguished Unit Citation—the only time a Canadian unit has received this honour. Military service took a heavy toll on his health and, following his honourable discharge from the army, he faced a difficult return to civilian life in Manitoba. Prince endured discrimination, illness, and poverty in the years that followed and died in 1977. He fought many demons after residential school and the horrors of combat, but he never lost his humility, self-worth, sense of humour and pride of being Anishinaabe. 

In 1931, the Gadsby branch of the Royal Canadian Legion decided to erect a memorial in honour of the soldiers who lost their lives fighting for their country. Research has shown that Chris Kruger, Arthur Heffer and Boddy Collins were the driving forces behind the project. Mr. Reynolds Sr. who was a stone mason, and Jim Hilton constructed the stone memorial. The memorial would be located in the Gadsby Cemetery. The Royal Canadian Legion held a dedication service at the memorial on August 30, 1931. This was the first Legion Memorial Service held at the Gadsby Cemetery. The Gadsby branch of the Legion always held this service on the last Sunday of August, until they gave up their charter in 1963. The few Legion members who were left in the district then joined the Stettler branch. The Stettler branch still holds this Memorial Service, or "Decoration Day" as it is commonly known. Those who lost their lives in the Second World War and any other war in which Canadians have fought and died have been added to the services.

This memorial is dedicated to those who died in the First and the Second World Wars.

This "Memorial Grove" of trees is dedicated to former members of personnel of Land Forces Western Area Training Centre Wainwright.

The original Monument was erected in 1946. However due to lack of care, a new Memorial was erected at a new site (Main Street) in 1994. The Monument is dedicated to those from Hay Lakes who gave their lives in the Great War (1914-1918), World War II (1939-1945), and the Korean War (1950-1953). There are two annual Memorial Services at the Memorial given by the High School and by the Church and Citizens.

The Drumheller and District Cenotaph was constructed in 1937 in memory of whose who served from Drumheller and District in World War I. Later tributes to those who served in the First and Second World Wars, and the Korean War were also added.

The Youngstown War Memorial was dedicated November 10th, 1999 in memory of all those who served in the Boer War (1899-1902), First World War (1914-1918), Second World War (1939-1945), the Korean War (1950-1953), and all Peace Keeping operations. The Memorial was planned and paid for by the Youngstown Cemetery Association, which is funded primarily by private donations. Remco Memorials did the construction and installation at cost, and Dale Crowle and Gladdish Construction, who prepared the concrete base, also made a generous donation to the Youngstown Cemetery Association. Excerpt from the Oyen Echo, November 16, 1999: Members of the Hanna Royal Canadian Legion #25 and guests from the Oyen Branch #208, students and staff of the Youngstown School and community members gathered for the dedication of the war memorial at the Youngstown Cemetery. In his dedication speech John Goodbrand, chairman of the Youngstown Cemetery Association said: "Today we commemorate 100 years of Canadian who served our country in the cause of justice, patriotism and freedom." A list of those who served from each of the four wars mentioned on the memorial, who has ever lived in the Youngstown area follows: Please note, that in the Second World War list the name *Roseland, Arnold Walter. He lived in the area as boy and in the July 14, 1999 issue of the Toronto Star he was named "The Unknown Canadian" after 55 years. BOER WAR VETERANS Athaws, Billy Creighton, Dr. James F. Donaldson, Charles A. Goodbrand, Alexander Meyer, Jake Munroe, Henry Smith Sutherland, Earl Synnuck, Harry Western, Tom FIRST WORLD WAR * Adshead, Harry Allan, William Anderson, Walter E. Arbogast, Charles B. Archeson, Ross Armstrong, George E. Auld, Paul Bain, Gregor * Baker, Bernard, G. Baker, C.C. * Baldwin, Jas. Alfred Baldwin, Reginald Barlow, Percy * Barnes, F.F. Batson, Cliff Beeton, George * Bennett, Rev. A.J. Bethel, P.F. Bilton, A.L. * Bonser, Edward T. Bourne, Henry Brady, Paul J. Brotherston, D.H. Brotherston, L.A. Brown, William * Brownell, Harry Bryan, William Burkhold, Ed Campbell, A. Campbell, Jack Ceser, E.C. Chapman, R.F. * Choate, Harold Church, Edwin Coke, U.V. Colpitts, L.M. Cotter, Charles Cragg, W. Cross, W.W. Cummer, Jack Cummings, W.J. Curtis, --- * Curtis, Joe Curtis, W.E. De Young, Arthur De Young, Wilfred Deverauex, M.T. Dickeson, Donald * Diffey, Herbert Dinwoodie, Dick Dinwoodie, George Dunnill, Stanley Edler, George Wesley Elliot, Jack Elmere, L.L. Enderton, Homer Falk, Harry W. Frakes, Robert Garland, R. Garlock, George Edward Garlock, Willard Edward Gaucher, John Sr. Genest, Alfred Goodbrand, John Goodwin, Richard Gough, W.H. Gray, Alex (British Army) Greig, Peter Griffiths,George Hagen, Benjamin * Hammond, G.A. Hart, Dr. Hugh H. Hart, Jerry Heasley, Wilfred * Heller, Dick * Herold, Ray C. Holbrook, Clyde Holmes, A. Huggins, Jack Hunter, Edward James, Norman Jenson, J. Jespersen, D.H. Jones, Lawrence Kay, Scotty Kidder, Harvey Kidder, Victoria H. Kirby, Frank * Koplin, William (died in camp) Leslie, George Loper, --- Lowe, James A.R. Lowther, C.W. * MacMillan, Wm. (died in camp) Manion, Arthur Austin * Marchant, --- Martin, Arthur Mather, Thomas Maw, John McCarthy, James * McColl, Douglas C. McDonald, D.M. McKay, Dan McKellar, Edmond McKinley, Clark McLean, J.D. McLean, Laughlin * McLeod, D.N. Middleton, Alex * Miller, E.J. Morrison, A.E.S. Muirhead, John M. Murphy, William D. Nasmyth, W.W. O’Hara, Barney Orrick, J.R. * Orrick, Joe (accidentally killed) Osborne, John Osmond, S.C. Paterson, William Pines, H.C. Portier, R.H. Pratt, E.L. * Quanberry, J.H. Reiner, Gotlieb Riley, Harry Ringrose, Frank Ross, Donald N. Shaw, George Shelton, W. Shepard, Ambrose Siegrist, Earl Simpson, Thomas C. Slingsby, E. * Smith, D. * Smith, Herbert Smith, W. * Spalding, Geo. Spencer, E.W. Sprotson, Dr. Stacey, L.G. * Stephenson, --- Stewart, Charles V. Stewart, Wilbur Sully, John A. Synnuck, Jack Tanner, Tom Tate, L.C. * Telfer, Andrew Tetlock, Cecil * Tinlin, W. (died in camp) Tovey, Edgar Trimner, Eldon Trogan,Eldon Trogen, Everet Trostle, Harry Turmoth, G.D. Twyning, W.S. Van Brunt, George * Van Brunt, H.G. Van Dyke, A. Vinton, Frank * Vinton, Fred Vinton, John * Wade, Harry Walsh, J.G. Watson, Ernest Watson, Robert Watt, Bruce White, A.E. White, M. * White, --- (died after returning) Whyte, M. Wigley, Art Wood, B.A. Zehren, J. SECOND WORLD WAR Allsopp, Allin Anderson, George Anderson, Gordon Anderson, Ray Anderson, Wilfred Andrew, Norman Armstrong, Jim Armstrong, W. Ashmore, Robert Auld, Walter Bannick, Herb Bartman, Gordon Bartman, Lloyd Barton, Donald Beamish, Emily Beamish, Winifred Berg, Art Berild, Chris Berild, John Bertsch, Bill Blair, Harry Blair, Robert * Bohush, Eugene Bohush, Russell Boswell, Jim (British Army) Brewer, Allen Buckley, Joseph Buckley, Thomas Burrows, Norman Butler, (Hampton) Elsie Butler, Jack Clark, Alfred Clark, Ralph Clark, Wesley Clarkson, Douglas Coad, Ransom Coffin, Delbert Coffin, Keith Coultis, Violet Daley, F.J. Day, George Demaere, Ted Dewey, William H. Douglas, James * Douglas, William Lloyd Eccles, Gorm Edwards, Charlie Edwards, Dave Edwards, Kenneth Elliot, Jim Elliot, Tommy Elliott, Harvey Gaucher, John Sr. Gaucher, John Jr. Gaucher, Lloyd Givens, George Goodbrand, Jim Gordon, Albert Gordon, Charles Gordon, Jack Gordon, W.A. (Ab) Greer, Bill Grover, (Smereka) Lois Gurnett, Bill Hall, Norman Hall, Wesley Hettler, Adam Hettler, Joseph Hughs, George Hunter, Eddie Hunter, George Hunter, Gordon Hunter, Harry Hunter, Ted * Jackson, Henry Jackson, Mary Johnson, Earl F. Johnson, Norman Johnson, Ralph Johnson, Ted Kachman, Roman Kerner, Jim King, Alex Kleven, Everett Kuczma, Alexander Paul Larson, Ernie Laughlin, John Laughlin, Mervin Lougheed, George Lougheed, Lloyd Lynn, James Jr. MacDonald, Jim Maxwell, Thomas McKeage, J. Mellom, Alden * Mellom, Arthur Mellom, Clarence Mellom, Julius Mellom, Lawrence Munroe, Alex Munroe, Arthur Munroe, Jack Naismyth, John Niles, Isabel Paetz, Henry Pahl, Emerih Pahl, Frank Pahl, Jacob Parsons, Stan Peacock, Gordon Peterson, Ray Pincombe, Arthur L. Roberts, Walter Robinson, Earl * Roseland, Arnold Walter Roy, Don Ruppert, Bill Rutz, Alfred Ryan, Leo Savage, Gordon * Savage, Myron Schlatter, Rudolph Schmidt, Isaac Schmitz, Gordon Schmitz, Grant Schmitz, Norman Schott, Conrad Stilling, Frank Stitt, William Thring, George Thring, Wesley * Tobin, Clifford Turnbull, Gordon Warwick, Frank White, Edwin Wilson, James Zinn, Ross KOREAN WAR Hunter, George Seguin, Emerson *Killed in Action

This memorial is dedicated to the men and women who served. It was erected by the Royal Canadian Legion Branch 202, Strome, Alberta.

Unveiled on 21 October 1921, this memorial was originally dedicated to the local war dead of the First World War. A second plaque was unveiled by Royal Canadian Legion Branch No. 55 on 31 August 1947 to honour the local war dead of the Second World War.