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French Basilians opened St. Michael’s College School in 1852.

The large framed listing of all of the school’s known war dead is now in St Michael’s College School musem, Toronto. Hand-written (copper plate style). Six panels (church window shape). Panel one: (school crest) St. Michael’s / College School / Honours its students / who gave their lives / in war. Panel two: hand-drawn plain cross above “World War I.” Panels three to five: hand-drawn plain cross above “World War II.” Panel six: (Greek writing) “In place of lamentation / there is remembrance, / and pity is become praise.” 

Rock garden (“Tulip Garden”): Inscribed on small rocks: (cross) Pray / for / Our War Dead / in World War I / and / World War II. Fr O’Brien initiated creation of a special tulip garden in the school’s courtyard to commemorate the 50th anniversary (1995) of the end of World War II. This was part of a cross-Canada “Canada Remembers” project. Garden composed of a small statue of Saint Francis holding a bird in his right hand, rocks, driftwood, small evergreens and seasonal plants. Maintained by Fr Cecil Zinger, a teacher at the school. Archivist Richard McQuade continues (2013) to work on details of the military records of any former SMCS students—many of whom joined the Royal Canadian Air Force. He is compiling details such as service numbers, data from government files, cross references, etc. and welcomes further information.

The Bishop Strachan School (BSS), a day and boarding school for girls, and its graduates volunteered in the Red Cross, working hard for the World War II (1939–1945) effort. Some 160 BSS Old Girls joined the women’s divisions of the three services, holding positions in such fields as intelligence, censorship, and radio operation. Some became members of the auxiliaries. Overall, BSS graduates served in Canada, the United States, England, Italy, Germany, Egypt, Algeria, and India.

1939 Sept 3: Three BSS teachers were returning from Britain aboard a civilian ship, SS Athenia. World War II was just 10 hours old when the ship became the first British casualty of a submarine attack. Dorothy Hutchings, aged 39, a popular teacher, died.

The Bishop Strachan School, a day and boarding school for girls, and its graduates were strongly involved in the World War I (1914–1918) effort, with about 40 Old Girls serving as nurses and VADs (voluntary aid detachment workers). On Sept 7 1915 Frances E. (“Frank”) Munro, the first Canadian Nursing Sister to perish in World War I, died on the island of Lemnos.

The War memorial at Bishop Strachan School, Toronto, includes a rare listing of 16 WWII services in the key below the names.

A Brass plaque at Bishop Strachan School, Toronto honours Frances E. Monro, the first Canadian nursing sister to die in the Great War.

Students and graduates volunteered in the Red Cross, working hard for the World War II (1939–1945) effort. Some 160 BSS Old Girls joined the women’s divisions of the three services, holding positions in such fields as intelligence, censorship, and radio operation. Some became members of the auxiliaries. Overall, BSS graduates served in Canada, the United States, England, Italy, Germany, Egypt, Algeria, and India.

1939 Sept 3: Three BSS teachers were returning from Britain aboard a civilian ship, SS Athenia. World War II was just 10 hours old when the ship became the first British casualty of a submarine attack. Dorothy Hutchings, aged 39, a popular teacher, died.

1939 Sept: Eighty British girls in Toronto on a cross-country tour became stranded by the outbreak of war; BSS took in 65 of them. Although many returned to England, a steady stream of other war guests arrived to replace them. The school paid for many; others were housed and supported by the school community. The war guests were allowed to wear their English uniforms. Fundraisers, such as the sale of Christmas cards designed by an Old Girl in 1941 and 1942, helped with expenses. Home after the war, the guests began a British branch of the Old Girls Association.

(WWII): Illuminated list designed by A.J. Casson. “For King and Country / Members of / The Bishop Strachan School / who have volunteered for active service / with / Canada’s fighting forces.” Four columns. Given names followed by surnames. Key: The numerals 1 to 16 note the service in which each person served. The indicating numeral is to the left of the girls’ names. Lower right hand corner: Margaret Reale scripsit—November 1993. Affixed to the bottom of the frame is a brass plaque: This roll of honour commemorates the names of BSS Old Girls who served during WWII. It was begun in 1943 and hung in the / front hall for many years. The frame is made from the wood of the original Great Hall benches “upon which they have sat on / so many occasions. After 1994 research by Jane McGILLIVRAY ‘35 & / Margaret FOULDS Coburn ‘38, the plaque was rededicated / with a more complete list of names and calligraphy done by Past Parent Margaret Reale.

All women on this memorial appear under their “school” or maiden names (which by BSS tradition are written in upper case). We have made one exception in our indexing. Kathleen Gilmour appears on the memorial as Kathleen Ritchie, her school or maiden name. She is the only Old Girl known to have served under her married name. We have therefore indexed her as Kathleen Ritchie Gilmour. Mrs. Gilmour was Lady Superintendent-in-Chief (1943-1946) for St. John Ambulance, Canada. She recruited VADs (Voluntary Aid Detachment field nurses) from across Canada, set up the brigade’s headquarters in London, England, and was active in the organization all of her adult life. Anyone researching her, or St. John Ambulance, would look under her married name, Gilmour.

The Newman Club University of Toronto Second World War Service Roll hangs in St. John Henry Newman Catholic Church (formerly St. Thomas Aquinas Church) or Newman Chapel. Newman Centres were established in many countries to provide pastoral care to Roman Catholic students attending secular universities. 

Designed by A.J. Casson, the illuminated list has no key and is not dated. The calligrapher did not indicate which people died, but we know after the fact that at least nine of these people died in the Second World War (six in Canadian Forces and three in American Forces). The order of the names can not be discerned. 

Oakwood Collegiate Institute (OCI)’s dead of the two World Wars are honoured in one large memorial.

World War One Memorial Plaque (1914-1918):

Of the 142 students and former students who enlisted in the Great War, 108 returned. Isabel Sutherland, one of five teachers who served, was stationed with an American hospital unit in France, which was bombed with poison gas. Miss Sutherland died shortly after returning to Toronto. (Captain) A. W. Dunkley, fought at Vimy Ridge, and was wounded at Passchendaele. The Dunkley Scholarship is still awarded annually.

The three bronze memorials to those who died in both World Wars are on the ground floor. The single WWI plaque is inset in the centre of the display. The two WWII plaques are on either side of the WWI plaque.

“In Flanders Fields;” left side: Vimy Ridge memorial—photo and description; right side: Juno Beach Centre—photo and description.

On the second floor, two A. J. Casson list the names of all former Oakwood staff and students who served in World War II.

Other materials, such as the photo displays of WWII students who died, are in the school’s library/archives.

(WWI): Printed list: Honour Roll of OCI / students who died in / the war. Display case: 3” x 5” card in school museum. Rank followed by given names and surname.

(WWI): Bronze plaque: Oakwood crest with dates 1914—1918. In honour of the brave sons of / Oakwood Collegiate Institute who fell in the Great War. Three columns. Given names followed by surname.

(WWII): Bronze plaque: In grateful remembrance / of / Oakwood’s sons / who gave / their lives in World War II / 1939—1945. Two columns; one name at the bottom is displayed in the middle of the two columns. Given names followed by surname: Agnew to Jenkinson At the bottom: Freedom endures through sacrifice.

(WWII): Bronze plaque: In grateful remembrance / of / Oakwood’s sons / who gave / their lives in World War II / 1939—1945. Two columns. Given names followed by surname: Kee to Winter. At the bottom: Freedom endures through sacrifice.

(WWII): Illuminated list designed by A.J. Casson. “For King and Country / Members of / Oakwood Collegiate Institute / who have volunteered for active service / with / Canada’s fighting forces” Eights columns. Surnames followed by given names or initials. Below the main body of the memorial are five columns with six names each. Column i is headed “Girls.” (Armbrust, Edith to Walters, D.) A list headed “Boys” starts below the girls’ names. Includes notations re: medals, etc. Key: red cross indicates: died on active service; red circle indicates: prisoner of war; red asterisk indicates: missing. List does not specify which war, but the presence of women’s names, and the use of an A.J. Casson document, indicate World War II.

(WWII): Illuminated list designed by A.J. Casson. “For King and Country / Members of / Oakwood Collegiate Institute / who have volunteered for active service / with / Canada’s fighting forces” Eights columns. Surnames followed by given names or initials. Column i is headed “Staff.” A list headed “Students” starts below the staff names. Includes notations re: medals, etc. Key: red cross indicates: died on active service; red circle indicates: prisoner of war; red asterisk indicates: missing. List does not specify which war, but the presence of women’s names, and the use of an A.J. Casson document, indicate World War II.

(WWII): framed collection of 52 individual black and white photos. Five rows. First names followed by surname (Ross Agnew to Bruce N. Jenkins). No heading. No key. War not named, but uniforms indicate World War II.

(WWII): framed collection of 53 individual black and white photos. Five rows. First names followed by surname (David Jenkinson to William Willison). No heading. No key. War not named, but uniforms indicate World War II.

A Commemorative Plaque was erected at Humberside Collegiate Institute in Toronto, Ontario in memory of students and former students who gave their lives in the Great War 1914-1918. Humberside Collegiate Institute is a public high school, established in 1892, which serves the Bloor West Village, Baby Point, High Park North and Junction neighbourhoods.

This Frist World War Plaque is in the 48th Highlanders Museum located in the basement of St. Andrews Church.

The 134th Battalion, which was authorized on 22 December 1915 as the 134th "Overseas" Battalion, Canadian Expeditionary Force, embarked for Britain on 8 August 1916. The battalion provided reinforcements to the Canadian Corps in the field until 7 March 1918, when its personnel were absorbed by the 12th Reserve Battalion, Canadian Expeditionary Force. The battalion was disbanded on 29 November 1918.

The Canadian Military Institute erected a bronze Great War Memorial Plaque in proud remembrance of those members of the Canadian Military Institute who died for their country in the Great War in the years our Lord 1914-1921. The names are recorded in the Golden Book, University of Toronto Press, Toronto 1928. The memorial was unveiled at the house of the Canadian Military Institute in Toronto with full military honours by the Governor General Viscount Willingdon on November 16, 2016 in the presence of relatives and members.

The St. Paul's Anglican Church First World War Tablets are set in the chancel screen which consists of three sections. The two outside sections display the tablets. The chancel screen includes statues of twelve historic figures including Admiral Earl Beatty, King George V, Earl Kitchener, Marshal Foch, Earl Haig, and Lord Byng of Vimy. The carved alabaster screen was made by J. Wippell & Co., of Exeter, England.

Parkdale Collegiate Institute’s war memorials were originally in two separate places. In 1968, a combined memorial for both World Wars was designed and placed on the second floor.

(WWI): Bronze plaque headed: Faithful (PCI) unto death. Under the list of names: In Memory / of the boys of this / school who gave their / lives in the Great War / Their name liveth for evermore. Three columns; given names followed by surnames. Originally installed in the entranceway of the “old” school in 1921. Moved to the front hallway of the “new” school in 1929.

(WWII): Illuminated list designed by A. J. Casson. “For King and Country / 1939 Members of 1945 / Parkdale Collegiate Institute / who have volunteered for active service / with / Canada’s fighting forces.” Six columns. Surnames followed by given names. This memorial begins with Abbot, Frances and ends with Langford. Alan. Key: (red ink cross) “Marks the names of those who were killed in the war.” In 1989, the PCI Centennial Committee restored this memorial.

(WWII): Illuminated list designed by A. J. Casson. “For King and Country / 1939 Members of 1945 / Parkdale Collegiate Institute / who have volunteered for active service / with / Canada’s fighting forces.” Six columns. Surnames followed by given names. This memorial begins with Laphen, John and ends with Young, Florence, and Webster, Lester. Key: (red ink cross) “Marks the names of those who were killed in the war.” In 1989, the PCI Centennial Committee restored this memorial.

(WWII): Bronze plaque: 1939 (maple leaf) 1945. One column. Surnames followed by given names (Adams, Wilbert to Knight, Alan). Parkdale crest and motto: Let Knowledge Grow from More to More. Although this memorial does not specify death in words, its placement on the left side of the memorial to WWI dead, indicates death. Also, the names listed here appear on the A.J. Casson memorial with a red cross indicating “The names of those who were killed in the war.” Originally installed in front of the assembly hall (the auditorium) in 1948.

(WWII): Bronze plaque: 1939 (maple leaf) 1945. One column. Surnames followed by given names (Lewis, Edward to Yeats, Lionel). “So Long as / Parkdale / Shall / Endure / These / Shall Be Revered.” Although this memorial does not specify death, its placement on the right side of the memorial to WWI dead, indicates death. Also, the names listed here appear on the A.J. Casson memorial with a red cross indicating “the names of those who were killed in the war.” Originally installed in front of the assembly hall (the auditorium) in 1948.

(WWI): Copy of recommendation. Hand-written in ink: Canadian Infantry Brigade 4th Canadian Division Frank’s Force Sep. 18th, 1916, Unit 75 Canadian Inf. Bn. Name and rank Lieut. Alan Barrie Duncan. Action for which commended: For conspicuous gallantry at St. Eloi on 17-9-16. When a raid on the enemy trenches being proposed and a gap in the enemy wire having been supposedly cut during the day, by our artillery fire, he undertook to examine the enemy’s wire and locate the gap. He was absent in No Man’s Land from dusk until midnight, most of the time skirting the enemy wire in bright moonlight, and finally succeeded in locating the break, and returned to advise the raiders. He guided the raiding party successfully to the break in the wire and, although not called upon to do so, took part in the raid on the German trenches, and performed conspicuous work in encouraging and directing the men. (Signed) Lt. Col. S. G. Beckett. Below the copy of the recommendation is a photograph of Captain Duncan.

(WWI): Framed obituary: Duncan, Capt. Alan Barrie, M. C., 75th Bn. Canadian Inf. (1st Central Ontario Regt.) 29th Sept., 1918, Age 20. Son of the Rev. George Petrie Duncan, of St. Andrew’s Manse, Port Credit, Ontario, and the late Helena Vivia Duncan (nee Goodwin). His brother, Captain George Gordon Duncan, had died on active service in 1915.

(WWI): Framed photographs: (a) Gravestone: Captain / Alan Barrie Duncan, M. C. / 75th Bn. Canadian Inf. / 29th September 1918. Age 20; (b) view of three rows of gravestones; (c) large memorial cross. Caption below these photographs reads: Cantimpre Canadian Cemetery (Sailly, France) / Burial place of Captain Alan Barrie Duncan, M. C. 75th Bn. C. E. F. / Alan attended Parkdale Collegiate Institute from 1911 to 1916 / (photos by J. Maize, July 2010).

(WWI): Framed display of five World War I medallions, including two examples of a “dead man’s penny.” These were issued to the next-of-kin of all British and Empire service personnel who died in the war.

(all veterans): Framed commercial “For Valour” poster: Commemorating the sixteen Canadian servicemen awarded the Victoria Cross for conspicuous bravery during World War Two 1939-1945. A brass plaque at the bottom reads: Presented to / W. Magee and J. Murray / in honour of all P.C.I. veterans / 2001-2002.