In common with many other communities, New Hamburg has honoured its war dead with a cenotaph, but few communities have had three cenotaphs over a period of 70 years. Plans for the first cenotaph began in 1918, but it was not erected until 1922. On December 6, 1918, interested citizens met at the library hall to discuss a monument in honour of New Hamburg's fallen heroes. A committee was appointed to carry out the commendable undertaking: Reeve Fred Debus, Chairman, S.G. Bratlett, Secretary, L.G. Pequegnat, J.F. Katzenmier, Lewis Hahn, Dan Becker, Dr. Anderson, Henry A. Ernst and Thomas Wenzel.
Eventually, a captured German field artillery piece of modest size arrived and was mounted on a concrete pad at the main intersection, where the Centennial fountain is located. Sometime after the Second World War it mysteriously disappeared one Halloween night; its ultimate fate is not known.
The Women's Patriotic Society, which provided comfort for the overseas soldiers, would join the memorial project. It was proposed that a soldiers' monument be erected with the names engraved of all New Hamburg men who fell in the battle. On September 8, 1922, the Women's Patriotic Society meeting was advised that the foundation and base were practically completed by local stone masons and would be ready for the bronze statue and tablet in short time. Treasurer Mrs. G.H. Meyers requested payment of the outstanding subscriptions. New Hamburg's first war memorial - a stone cairn almost nine feet in height - was never graced by a soldier's statue.
On May 1927, the Women's Institute invited the members of New Hamburg Council, Board of Trade, Park Board and School Board to discuss a new memorial. In mid-1927, a committee was named to lead the planning: Leon G. Pequegnat, David Eby, O.H. Becker, Lafayette Hostetler and three members to be named by the Women's Institute. The committee visited Ayr, Paris, Hamilton and Preston to view memorial monuments and obtain prices. During the following year, the stone cairn, which had been the village's link with its war dead, was demolished to make way for a new cenotaph, cast in concrete, with the names of the New Hamburg servicemen, along with several others from the immediate area, embossed on the face.
On May 24, 1929, the new memorial was unveiled by Lieutenant Governor D.W. Ross. A procession headed by the New Hamburg Band, followed by the school children, marched to the cenotaph. Mr. Hostetler was chairman and Colonel F.A. Lister, DSC, of London, Ontario, read the last roll call. The wreaths were placed by the relatives of the fallen, the Municipality, Women's Institute and Memorial Committee. The Ontario Legislature and the House of Commons were present. The Last Post was sounded by Bugler Richards of Kitchener and the school children sang "O Canada". Later, inscriptions were added for the Second World War and Korean War.
The cenotaph suffered the effects of rain and frost, repairs were no longer feasible and the replacement of the memorial was considered. Many changes had occurred in the intervening years, New Hamburg and Wilmot Township were amalgamated. The Royal Canadian Legion Branch 532 had been formed in New Hamburg and consultation between Municipal Council and Legion Members resulted in a decision to replace the cenotaph. It was also agreed that names of Wilmot Veterans who died in service would be included. Another sixteen names were to be added to those on the original memorial.
Planning for a new cenotaph was placed in the hands of a committee composed of Rev. Roy Shepherd, Councillor Dave Scherer and Legion Members Sid Cheeseman and Harold Lautenschlager. A new cenotaph of light grey granite was erected by Shuh Memorials of Kitchener, costing $28,000. In 1990, a few days before Christmas the granite blocks, pre-cut and polished, were assembled on site on the concrete base poured earlier in the fall. A time capsule was prepared, containing newspaper, photographs, money and legion memorabilia to be enclosed in the base. In May 20, 1991, the a ceremony was held blessed by bright sunshine and warm temperature. Legion members, the New Hamburg band, and a number of special guests and the general public participated in the ceremony. The service was conducted by Rev. Roy Shepherd and legion President Jack Pearson.
