2014 Remembrance Day Section - Wellington Advertiser

REMEMBRANCE DAY 100 years later:

Remembering

the sacrifices of the Great War by Chris Daponte Remembrance Day is al ways a sombre and vitally important occasion to mark, but it is particu larly significant this year, as 2014 marks the 100th anniversary of the start of the First World War. Over 66,000 Canadians, in cluding about 330 from Well ington County, died during the Great War, from 1914 to 1918. No one could have predicted the war would take such a toll - it involved 30 countries, with about 10 million military deaths world wide, not to mention millions of civilian casualties as well. War begins Many assert with resounding conviction the Great War began on June 28, 1914, with the assassina tion of Archduke Franz Ferdinand, heir to the Austro-Hungarian throne, by Bosnian Serb student Gavrilo Princip. Ferdinand’s assassination was no doubt a factor, but in and of itself was not the sole cause of the war. The assassination did, how ever, expedite action in an already hostile environment of distrust characterized by existing defence alliances, an escalating arms race, militarism and mobilization plans, trade barriers, ethnic and political rivalries, and economic imperial ism. After Serbia rejected at least one of a list of 10 demands includ ed in an Austro-Hungarian ultima tum, Austria-Hungary declared war on July 28. Germany declared war against Russia on Aug. 1, and on France two days later. Germany then violated Bel gium’s neutrality by advancing through it to Paris, which brought the British Empire into the war. Canada joins the conflict Because of its imperial ties to Britain, Canada was obliged to participate, yet the war - bol stered by the belief it would be short lived - was embraced with optimism and an almost unani

mous spirit from coast to coast in Canada. The country had a regular army of just over 3,100 men and an inexperienced navy, yet accord ing to Veterans Affairs Canada, within weeks of the war declara tion over 32,000 men had volun teered. In fact, during the first two years of the war, voluntary enlist ment was sufficient to supply Canada’s need for troops on the front. Stories even surfaced about some would-be volunteers being turned away. Members of Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry, mostly ex-British Army regular soldiers, were the first Canadians to land in France in December 1914. About two months later the 1st Canadian Division reached France. Conscription and distinction As the reality of the trench warfare set in, the need for addi tional troops grew. In January 1916, British Prime Minister Lloyd George introduced conscription. About 15 months later, in response to heavy losses, particu larly in the Battle of Vimy Ridge in April 1917, Canadian Prime Minister Robert Borden intro duced the Military Service Act in an effort to replace the dead and wounded. Canadian soldiers fought with great distinction at Vimy Ridge, which is regarded as a turning point in the war and also a coming of age for Cana da. The victory marked the first time all four divi sions of the Canadian Corps had fought together. However, Canadian soldiers were also heralded for their roles prior to Vimy, including battles at Ypres, Festubert, and Givenchy in 1915, and the Somme in 1916. After Vimy, Canadians also played prominent roles at Hill 70, Passchendaele and Cambrai. Canadians also played a par ticularly significant role in the air. Over 25,000 Canadians served

with the British air service as pilots, observers and mechan ics, in every theatre of the war. The names of Cana dian fighter pilots like “Billy” Bishop became household names in Canada and beyond. The end of the war In the spring of 1918, German forces launched a major offensive on the western front, aiming at dividing the French and English forces. At first it was quite suc cessful, but Allied forces respond ed to halt the advance. On Aug. 8 the Allies launched a counteroffensive, now known as the Hundred Days Offensive, in which the Canadian Corps played a key role. The corps spearheaded a suc cessful yet costly attack near Amiens (over 9,000 casualties) and accompanied by British sol diers, helped smash through the

Over 66,000 Canadians, including about 330 from Wellington County, died during the Great War, from 1914 to 1918.

Hindenburg Line - Germany’s main line of defence - in September. By October, an Allied vic tory was imminent. Having suf fered over six million casualties, Germany was increasingly out numbered on the battlefield and thus moved toward peace. The entry of the United States into the war in 1917 helped to expedite the collapse of the Central Powers. Bulgaria was the first to sign an arm istice on Sept. 29, 1918

and the Ottoman Empire followed suit a month later. Austria and Hungary signed separate armis tices in early November and Germany signed Nov. 11. At 11am on Nov. 11 - the elev enth hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month - a cease fire came into effect. Opposing armies on the West ern Front began to withdraw from their positions. Canadian George Lawrence Price, born in Nova Scotia and drafted in Saskatchewan, is tradi tionally regarded as the last soldier killed in the Great War. He was shot by a German sniper on Nov. 11, and died at 10:58am. While a formal state of war persisted until the signing of the Treaty of Versailles on June 28, 1919, the cease fire of Nov. 11, 1918 is widely regarded as the true end to the Great War. The aftermath According to Veterans Affairs Canada, 65 million men from 30 nations were involved in the war; at least 10 million men were killed; 29 million more were wounded, captured or missing; and the finan cial cost was measured in hun dreds of billions of dollars. Despite a population of just eight million people, a total of 619,636 Canadian men and women served in the war - of which 66,655 gave their lives and another 172,950 were wounded. The nation’s impressive war record won Canada a separate sig nature on the Treaty of Versailles, signifying Canada had achieved national status. In 1914, Canada entered the war as a colony with just one divi sion of citizen soldiers under the command of a British general, and by 1918 was its own nation with a respected fighting force led by a Canadian. Statistical source: Veterans Affairs Canada (vac-acc.gc.ca) Photo of Mother Canada of the Vimy Memorial by Helen Michel

Area Remembrance Day services Aberfoyle Nov. 11 at 10:30am. Service begins in the community cen tre in Aberfoyle at 10:30am with wreaths laid at cenotaph following the service. Aboyne On Nov. 10 at 6pm the Welling ton County Museum and Archives will host a lighting of tribute can dles. Residents are invited to light a tribute candle for the county’s 471 fallen. Candles will remain lit through the nights of Nov. 10 and 11. Acton Nov. 8 at 10:45 at the cenotaph (parade begins 10:30am). Nov. 11, 11am at the cenotaph. Arthur Nov. 11 at 11am at the ceno taph; parade starts at 10:30am.

Belwood Nov. 9 at 12:30pm at the ceno taph. Clifford Nov. 9 at 2:30pm at the ceno taph. Drayton Nov. 11 at 2:30pm. The parade will form in front of the Legion at 2:15pm. Elora Nov. 11 at 11am at the Elora cenotaph. Erin Nov. 9 cenotaph service at 10:45am (bus leaves Legion at 10:30am). Community service at Erin Legion at 12pm. Nov. 11 at 11am at the ceno taph. Fergus Nov. 11 at 11am at the Fergus

cenotaph. The parade will form at the Fergus Legion at 10:15am and start at 10:30am. Members wel come to march. Grand Valley Nov. 11 at 10:30am at the cenotaph. Guelph Nov. 11 at 9am, Remembrance Day service, McCrae birthplace on Water Street Guelph. Nov. 11 at 11:20am, Remem brance Day service at Sleeman Centre (parade leaves the Armoury at 9:45am). Harriston Nov. 11 at 11am at the Harriston Cenotaph. Mount Forest Parade on Nov. 11 from 10:30 to 11:30am. Main Street will be closed between Murphy and

Queen Streets. Palmerston Nov. 11 at 11am at the ceno taph. Rockwood Nov. 8 at the Rockwood ceno taph at 10:45am. Participants assemble at the Post Office at 10:30am. On Nov. 11 Grade 7 and 8 students host a Remembrance Day service at 10:50am at the ceno taph. Members of the public are welcome to attend. Salem Nov. 11 at 9:30am at the Salem cenotaph in Veteran’s Park.

a special feature supplement to the november 7 edition of the wellington advertiser

PAGE TWO Section B of The Wellington Advertiser, Friday, November 7, 2014

Finding the fallen:

navigating Europe’s war grave cemeteries

by Meagan Leonard ELORA – Locating the final resting spot of someone who served in one of the World Wars is like finding a needle in a haystack. With over 1.7 million burials, 23,000 cemeteries and 153 countries, those can be some tough numbers to crunch. Yet such figures do not seem to faze local Navy veteran Gord Brown - it’s easy he says, if you know where to look. Since his retirement from the Canadian Forces - he was stationed in Qatar during the Gulf War - Brown has travelled through Europe locating Wellington County’s fallen. He has found some 200 resting spots and continues to be approached by curious family members from across the

region seeking burial information about their ancestors. Before beginning a search, Brown sends the name of the deceased to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC), which searches its database and provides him with the soldier’s age, rank, unit, date of death, cemetery location and grave marker number. This makes things relatively easy. “There are around 1,000 cemeteries just in southern Belgium and northern France and each can have 25 [burials] all the way up to the thousands,” he remarks. “You don’t want to go to Europe to find a grave without asking somebody from the CWGC first.” Brown says because the

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Community service – Elora resident Gord Brown stands among some of his military service items at his home on Nov. 3. Since retiring from the Canadian Forces, Brown has helped promote remembrance throughout the county by giving volunteer presentations at the museum and finding and photographing grave markers of Wellington’s fallen. photo by Meagan Leonard

Brown says there are a number of factors that could determine where a solider would be buried. Due to mass casualties and dangerous conditions, many burials were often hurried and done right on the battlefield while others were transported to a designated site. This, he says, depended on protocol established by the country troops were serving. “For the Canadians and the British, they would be buried where they fell in action as close as possible. The Germans and the Americans moved people with them and buried them later,” he says. “So some of the German and American cemeteries have [40,000 to 50,000 people] in them … and there are only around five cemeteries, whereas the British have over 1,000.” Brown says in the case of battlefield burials, a special team of troops would return later to identify bodies and make a note of their location. “A lot of people, especially in the middle part of France during the Battle of the Somme, would be buried in one spot and later all the graves would be dug up

and amalgamated into a major cemetery.” The process was aided by the dog tag identification all soldiers were given when heading to the front. However many times the necklaces were lost in battle and bodies were found in a condition that made recognition impossible - meaning thousands of soldiers went unidentified. “Often the bodies were badly destroyed and the tags would be blown away. Sometimes they could tell it was a Canadian from the buttons or badges that were on the uniform, but quite often they couldn’t even do that, so it’s not uncommon to find markers that just read, ‘a soldier of the Great War.’” Other times, quick burials and limited space meant two or three soldiers share one plot. “In some areas where the fighting was very fierce, you wind up with one, two and sometimes three names on a stone,” he says. For those whose remains were never recovered, Brown says their names can be found on various memorials such as the monument at Vimy Ridge in France, which contains

the names of 11,285 missing Canadian soldiers. Although Brown has visited some 500 European burial sites in his travels, he says the Tyne Cot cemetery in Belgium has had the most profound impact on him. He says the feeling of standing on the top of the hill and seeing acre upon acre of markers is indescribable. “People have no concept of seeing a cemetery with 10,000 crosses in it. I’m sure [everyone] has been to a cemetery before but you’ve never seen cemeteries like these, it’s just incomprehensible,” he says. “And those people probably died within a two- or three-day period.” Tyne Cot is the largest Commonwealth cemetery in the world with 11,956 servicemen commemorated – 8,369 of which are unidentified. A memorial on the site further recognizes some 35,000 people whose remains were never recovered. Brown says he would really like to see grave sites in Asia and the Middle East because many people forget about them. “They’re hard to get to because there’s a lot of wars going on in the Middle East,” he says. “All of those Middle Eastern countries have massive war graves but unfortunately they’re not in very good shape right now because they’re in the middle of warfare and being destroyed.” Despite the Great War reaching its centenary this year, Brown says he doesn’t think attention to acts of remembrance will fade away as schools continue to attend the program put on by the Wellington County Museum & Archives each November. “The families are still eager and we normally have about eight schools involved each year and I think they’re just amazed [by what they see],” he says.

Remembrance Day is always a very important day in the life of our school, our community and our country.

Honouring those who fought for peace

Elora

landscape has changed so drastically in the last century, many of the smaller cemeteries have been swallowed up by urban centres and can be difficult to find. “A lot of the places that were open ground and countryside have now been built up,” he explains. “I had one cemetery in Belgium ... I went over a number of times and I just haven’t been able to find it.” The physicality of the grave markers themselves can also contain a lot of information, he says. One can usually narrow down which country it is just by looking at it. Canadian and British stones are slate in colour with rounded edges – Canadian tablets are inscribed with a maple leaf, or a Victoria Cross if it was awarded. French and German markers take the shape of a cross and “the American ones are very white and in the form of a cross,” says Brown. “And if they happened to be Jewish there would be a Star of David.” The cemeteries themselves are also unique. In the Wimereux cemetery located in northern France, the headstones lay flat in the ground due to heavy coastal winds and the sandy nature of the soil. In 1914, this site was an important hospital centre and contains 220 Canadians, including Lieutenant John McCrae of Guelph. The Harrogate Cemetery in North Yorkshire England contains around five soldiers from Wellington County, Brown has discovered – from Arthur, Elora, Fergus and Kenilworth. Sometimes, he says he goes to find a site for someone and ends up uncovering previously unknown family history in the process. “Last year I went over and I found that a family had changed the spelling of their name and the family never knew it.”

We remember the Canadians who served our country in war and in peace and those who serve today.

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Section B of The Wellington Advertiser, Friday, November 7, 2014 PAGE THREE

A brother remembered: Meecham mentioned in WWII despatches by Chris Daponte FERGUS - For Helen Krouse, every Nov. 11 is a solemn and personally significant occasion. The Fergus resident says each Remembrance Day she can’t help but think of her father, who fought in the Boer War and the First World War, and her brother, who fought in the Second World War. “You never forget them,” she said of both men, now deceased, who shared the name Alfred Albert Meecham. Krouse said her brother, who was well known to many in the Fergus area simply as “Alf”, volunteered for the army on Oct. 24, 1941. He was one of many young men in town who decided to enlist after war broke out in Europe

‘ALF’ MEECHAM in 1939. “He was my only brother, so I was sad to see him go,” Krouse said, noting her parents also had four girls, including herself. A craftsman with the Royal Canadian Electrical and Mechanical Engineers, Alf formed part of the 1st Division tank recovery unit. “I think his job was pretty dangerous,” said Krouse, who

explained her brother was tasked with fixing tanks and other equipment on or near the front lines. She noted Alf managed to escape serious injury throughout the war, which for him included stops in Italy, France and Germany. “He did go through hell ... But he was one who never talked about it,” Krouse said before pausing momentarily. Then, echoing the sentiments of countless others who had a loved one in the war, she added, “I wish I had of asked more questions, but you don’t think about it when you’re young.” Krouse herself was part of the war effort at home, leaving high school in Grade 10 or 11 to work “in munitions” at the local Beatty Brothers plant. “There was a lot of us that quit school and went off to work,” she said. “[It was] not very nice, but at the time you

don’t realize how bad it is.” She regularly wrote letters back and forth with Alf while he was overseas, but she said months would often pass without a word from her brother. “It was exciting to get his letters,” said Krouse, who still has a collection of the wartime correspondence that she keeps in a keepsake box made by fellow veteran Mac Aitken, who passed away four years ago. The letters are enthralling and remarkably upbeat, never offering too much information about personal experiences or the campaign - instead always inquiring about life back home. In one letter dated Sept. 25, 1944, Alf hints at the possible end of the war. “Things sure look good now and I hope it’ll all be over before long and I can get back to civilization,” he wrote. Krouse noted some of her brother’s war experiences were relayed in a series of his-

Capture this spot in a photo and post it on Twitter, Instagram, or Facebook @vimyfoundation, and use the #Vimy2017 hashtag. Or email the photo to jjones@vimyfoundation.ca. On Remembrance Day 2014, the Vimy Foundation will create an album on its Facebook page with all submissions that capture the legacy of the First World War. The photographer of the photo that receives the most “likes” by the end of November will win a Vimy Foundation prize pack. The Vimy Foundation is a registered charity founded in 2006 whose mission is to preserve and promote Canada’s First World War legacy as symbolized with the victory of the Battle of Vimy Ridge. To learn more, visit www.vimyfoundation.ca.

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Krouse vividly remembers travelling with her father to pick up her brother in London, Ontario - and how much Alf had changed in five years. “None of us really recognized him,” she recalled. “He was just a kid when he left ... I guess they went through so much.” Alf returned to the Fergus area and married Veva Giles in 1950. Sadly, he died of a heart attack 17 years later, at the age of 44. Krouse said despite Alf’s reticence, her brother was always proud of his role in the war - and perhaps more so of fellow Fergus natives who decided to enlist. “A lot of them are forgotten,” she said of local veterans. That is why she takes time out every Nov. 11 to pay tribute to those brave men and women, many of whom never had the chance to return home.

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Foundation launches contest It has been 100 years since the First World War began. Though the battlefields where the war was fought are thousands of kilometres away, evidence of the impact of the First World War can be found all around the streets of local communities here in Canada. Where do you see the legacy of the First World War in your community? This Remembrance Week, the Vimy Foundation is encouraging all Canadians to become local historians, reflecting on the impact of the war in neighbourhoods, towns and cities across the country. During Remembrance Week, explore your hometown to find the places that show the impact of the First World War. Schools, monuments, memorials, cemeteries … see what you can find!

torical books by Aitken. “Those books were something else,” she said. “I wish people would pay more attention to them.” Alf received the usual commendations for his contributions to the war effort, but he was also awarded a bronze oak leaf emblem (as seen in top left medal photo) for being mentioned in dispatches during the campaign in Italy. Krouse explained the honour was related to Alf’s role in helping to rescue a number of soldiers pinned down by gunfire in a church. “I think they asked for someone to do it, and of course, my brother did it,” she recalled. An army superior wrote that Alf was “an excellent and efficient driver, always willing and cheerful, and I consider he is the best we have had.” Alf was officially discharged on April 30, 1946.

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PAGE FOUR Section B of The Wellington Advertiser, Friday, November 7, 2014

Section B of The Wellington Advertiser, Friday, November 7, 2014 PAGE FIVE

Minto Remembers World War I: exhibit recognizes 100th anniversary by Patrick Raftis HARRISTON - A walk through a comprehensive display of First World War memorabilia at the art gallery here provides a glimpse into wartime life - both at home and on the battlefield - a full century ago. Minto Remembers World War I, an exhibit recognizing the 100th anniversary of the Great War, recently wrapped up at the Minto Art Gallery. The exhibit featured displays ranging from gas masks to photographs of local men who served during the conflict. While art and armies might seem incongruous, Minto Arts Council volunteer Rita Bedell explained the idea was conceived by Harriston resident Judy Tuck, an active member of both the arts council and the local Legion branch. Tuck said the arts council has traditionally offered displays of a historical, as well as an artistic nature. While noting the former category is handled mostly by the Harriston Historical Society these days, with 2014 being the 100th anniversary of WWI, she said the display seemed a natural fit for the gallery. “A lot of the items came

from the Legion, but a lot were loaned to us by members of the community. They’ll be going back to them,” Bedell noted. At the heart of the display is a wall filled with photos of World War I veterans from the Harriston area. Under some, brief captions provide some insight into their life outside the military. Many of the family names, such as those of Harriston Motors founder Walter Grose, lumber and coal merchants Elmer and Nelson Howes, or funeral director Frederick Hardy, will be familiar to long-time residents. The stories of some of the soldiers are told through various exhibits spread throughout the hall. Harriston native Raymond Pritchard enlisted in the Canadian infantry in 1915. In a letter home in August of 1917, while awaiting orders to travel to France, he told of life at the Canadian Pioneer School in Sussex, England. “Well we are in huts here and fed off white enamel plates and bowls. Why, we live the life of a king here,” Pritchard wrote, adding he was considering a visit to the beach at nearby Seaford that very afternoon. “This makes a fellow feel

Remember Our Veterans “Canada’s Most Patriotic Village”, recognized as such because of Arthur’s extraordinary effort in World War II. With a population of about 900, Arthur had 100 men and women in the armed forces, most of whom were overseas. We celebrate, honour, and thank our Veterans. We will always remember their contributions and sacrifices. We remember them.

“A lot of the items came from the Legion, but a lot were loaned to us by members of the community. They’ll be going back to them.” - arts council volunteer RITA Bedell

like trying to do his best when they feed up and place you in a place like this.” A year later, Pritchard was wounded in action and died of his injuries on Aug. 26,

1918, at the age of 20. He was buried in Aubigny, France. His mother, Emma Anne Pritchard, to whom the cheery letter was addressed, was later selected as a Silver Cross Mother, and

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 11th Parade 10:45am Cenotaph Service 11:00am Auditorium Service to follow

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Br. 296 Agenda for Remembrance For more info. call 519-338-2843 or Day email: legion296@wightman.ca

Fergus Legion Br. 275

Remembrance Day Activities Sunday, November 9th Remembrance Church Service at 10:30 a.m. St. James Anglican Church 171 Queen Street East, Fergus Remembrance Service at 12:30 p.m. Belwood Cenotaph

They have our thoughts and prayers. War is a terrible thing, but it reminds us how fortunate we are when our loved ones are at home safe and sound. We join the rest of the community in wishing our troops safe deployment, and we thank those veterans who have gone before us to ensure our freedom. Proudly serving Centre Wellington with two newly renovated and comfortable locations. Fergus - Elora 519.843.3100 | 519.846.5352

Both services will be preceded by the Fergus Legion Branch 275 Colour Party

Tuesday, November 11th Remembrance Day Service at 11:00 a.m. Fergus Cenotaph The Colour Party will form at Fergus Legion Branch 275 at 10:15 a.m. Members welcome to march. For information regarding the Colour Party contact Conrad Sawyer 519-787-2106

asked to lay a wreath at a national service on behalf of all mourning mothers of Canadian soldiers. Major Charles E. Livingstone lived his whole life in Harriston - but for his years of wartime service. A farmer, a Canada Packers’ hog buyer and an assistant postmaster during his civilian career, he became a member of the 30th Wellington Rifles Harriston Company in 1898. At the outbreak of the war, he held the rank of major and, along with his two younger brothers John and Arthur, enlisted for active service. Charles spent time in England during the war and on his return in 1917 acted as an escort officer on Atlantic transports until the war ended. His obituary from the Harriston Review, Feb. 20, 1947, says he was “gazetted” LieutenantColonel after the war but continued to be known as major. His brother Arthur won the Military Cross for conspicuous gallantry at Amiens. Not all the local residents who contributed to the war effort did so on the battlefield. The display contains a Toronto Star article from earlier this year which tells the tale of Dr. John FitzGerald, the son of a Harriston pharmacist, who moved into the emerging field of public health after studying medicine at the University of Toronto. When the war broke out, Canada asked the university to produce vaccines and anti-toxins for its soldiers to fight diseases like diphtheria, typhoid, meningitis, smallpox and tetanus. That led to the establishment of Connaught Laboratories, where FitzGerald worked on the vaccines, which were hailed as a lifesaver for soldiers waging battles in fields filled with human and animal waste. After the war, FitzGerald continued to expand the laboratories and established a school of hygiene. The Minto exhibit also included general displays on the

war, such as a copy of a newspaper advertisement issued by the Military Service Council. It details the pay offered to Canadian soldiers (excluding commissioned officers), noting “the fact that wages in Canada are generally higher than those paid in Europe is recognized in the system of remuneration for men on active service. Clothing and all equipment, in addition to food is also supplied to the Canadian solider, leaving him with no expense except personal incidentals.” Pay rates listed range from $1 per day for privates, gunners and sappers to $2 per day for a warrant officer, with field allowances ranging from 10 to 30 cents added on.

THOMAS MANSER

THOMAS MURRAY

WALTER GROSE

an interview with her grandfather, T. Alexander “Sandy” Murray, who fought in France at Sommes, Vimy Ridge, Passchendaele and Ypres. “I enlisted in 1915 and left

Murray said, “It was Easter morning when the big battle began. We marched through here and caught the Germans off guard. The Heine fought from above. We managed to take their trenches in the hill. This was to our advantage because we were out of shell fire and could see any move they made below.” Passchendaele was “the worst place we ever fought,” the veteran recalled. “This was low, swampy country with a constant rainfall. Here we crawled 80 rod, along the ground, out of fire, in the mud. We were advancing on the Germans. We managed to hold it for 11 days, then had to back up and give the Heine ground, after losing a lot of men.” While at Passchendaele, Murray was given “a run for my life. “I was running from the trench in a guide party to bring relief when a Heine airplane machine gunned me. I kept running ‘till I reached a pillbox for protection. All my friends thought I was doomed.” Just before the signing of the armistice that ended the war, Murray was injured by shell fire. “I hollered for a stretcher and was carried to a dugout where I was dressed and fixed up. Then stretcher bearers car-

ried me down to the base. “On the way the Heine started shelling. Since my stretcher wouldn’t fit in the shell hole I was left up top for 10 minutes during the battle, receiving no more injuries! Then I was sent to hospital in England.” Asked by his granddaughter to comment on his experience in the conflict, Murray offered a summary that many soldiers might relate to. “Many times we thought they would break through. They seemed to keep coming and coming, but we always went over the top strong, always winning.” The exhibit at the arts council’s Harriston library display room wrapped up on Nov. 1. But many of the artifacts will be on display at the Harriston Legion Memorabilia Room on Nov. 11, and Tuck said viewings can always be arranged through the branch.

“Many times we thought they would break through. They seemed to keep coming and coming, but we always went over the top strong, always winning.” - late veteran ‘sandy’ murray on his experiences in wwI

The ad states, “a considerable number of men who have enlisted in the Canadian Forces have found themselves better off under the army rate of pay.” While some were perhaps financially better off, it’s doubtful remuneration was at the forefront of thoughts for those who found themselves on the front lines. Some of the most vivid accounts of the fighting can be found in a school project titled Trenches of the First World War, prepared by student Judith Anne Murray in 1972 for a history class taught by Tuck, a former Norwell District Secondary School teacher. The project included

Take time to Remember Staff & Students St. John Catholic School Arthur

Remembering Our Veterans

a year later. I didn’t have a care in the world when I left,” said the elder Murray, who’s 58th Battalion “lost a lot of men” at Ypres when the Germans dropped shells on a bush where they had been hiding. “After the battle the bush here was flattened. Not a green leaf left, only stumps. Here our trenches were badly destroyed so we let the Heine take eleven lines and repair them. They held them for eleven days then we got our trenches back, all built up.” Of Vimy Ridge, Sandy

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We honour their service & appreciate our freedom

Fergus Legion Banquet Hall Social from 5:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. Guest Speaker - Ted Arnott, MPP Tickets $12 (tax incl.)

Available from Ray Pearse, Executive or Bar Steward Please contact Veterans Service Officer Mervin Fisher 519-787-5111 to reserve

We invite you to pause with us at 11am on November 11th to observe the “2-Minute Wave of Silence” as we remember those men and women who sacrificially served their country with great courage in the wars. We are filled with gratitude for the self-less service they gave and we honour them. Together, we vow to pass on the legacy.

Township of Centre Wellington Mayor Joanne Ross-Zuj Councillors

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A Time to Remember!

Our thoughts are also drawn to those men and women who are presently serving this great nation, Canada, on foreign soil as well as here at home. We say a humble, heartfelt thank you as we ‘remember’.

Veterans Dinner is complimentary (with dinner ticket)

Please take time this November 11th to remember the service and sacrifice of our armed forces, past and present. They served so that we may have liberty, democracy and the rule of law. michael.chong@parl.gc.ca

519-848-3062

We especially think of our own from Centre Wellington today, men and women from the Royal Canadian Legion, Branch 229 – Elora and Branch 275 – Fergus. Thank you for helping us to keep alive the memories of those who paid the ultimate sacrifice as well as those who are active today in our community supporting residents and local groups throughout the Township in significant ways. You are appreciated!

Remembrance Dinner

Veterans remembered - A wall filled with photos of First World War veterans from the Harriston area formed the centrepiece of a display of WWI memorabilia hosted by the Minto Arts Council this fall. From left: Linda Campbell of the Harriston Historical Society and arts council volunteers Rita Bedell and Margret Reid. OPPOSITE PAGE: A display of gas masks from the era. photos by Patrick Raftis

Kelly Linton, Ward 1 Mary Lloyd, Ward 3 Walt Visser, Ward 5

Kirk McElwain, Ward 2 Fred Morris, Ward 4 Steven VanLeeuwen, Ward 6

Our gratitude to veterans who have served to ensure our freedom Need a hot meal? Floor swept? Transportation?

Call the VON, we can return the support to you and your family. For more information dial toll free

1-888-506-6353