1947 National Memorial (Silver) Cross Mother – Martha Labarge

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National Memorial (Silver) Cross Mother Martha Labarge.
(Photo courtesy of Charlie Labarge)

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(Photo courtesy of Charlie Labarge)

Mrs. Martha Labarge from Ottawa, Ontario, was the 1947 National Memorial (Silver) Cross Mother. During the national Remembrance Day ceremony in Ottawa on November 11, 1947, she laid a wreath at the base of the National War Memorial on behalf of all mothers who have lost a child in military service to Canada.

On September 30, 1942, her son, Flight Sergeant Leo John Labarge , was killed in action while serving with the Royal Canadian Air Force.

On March 12, 1943, a second son, Pilot Officer Bernard Henry Labarge, was killed on a bombing mission over Germany while serving with the Royal Canadian Air Force.

Mrs. Labarge had two sons overseas serving in the RCAF. In a sad twist of fate, she received news of both sons death in the same week in March 1943.

A native of Montréal, Québec, Martha Theresa Labarge (née O’Rourke) married Charles Henry Labarge, a native of Hungerford Township near Tweed, Ontario, on September 2, 1912. Following their move to Ottawa, they had five boys and one girl, four of whom served during the Second World War in one capacity or another.

Mrs. Labarge was heavily involved in community affairs during her days in Ottawa. She was well known for her prowess in fundraising and adopted a number of charities. She was President of the Ladies Auxiliary of the Ottawa General Hospital, President of the Catholic Church Extension Society, a director of the Ottawa Neighborhood Services, and director of St. Mary’s Home for the Aged. She was an active member of the Canadian Red Cross and the Ottawa Community Chest (the forerunner of the United Way) as well as the Ladies’ Auxiliary of St. Vincent Hospital and of Immaculata High School.

List of National Memorial (Silver) Cross Mothers

(Information courtesy of the Royal Canadian Legion, Canadian War Museum and families of the National Memorial (Silver) Cross Mothers)