Monday Monuments and Memorials – Great War Veterans Association Memorial, Smiths Falls, ON

Many municipalities formed committees at the end of WW1 to determine how best to commemorate those who served and those who died and then to execute those plans. You know what it’s like to work by committee. It’s not surprizing that some would get frustrated by endless discussions about details and seeming lack of progress.

Monday Monuments and Memorials – Great War Veterans Association monument, Acton, ON

Great War Veterans Association monument, Fairview Cemetery, Acton

Veterans buried around Great War Veterans Assn monument, Acton

A monument “in loving memory of our fallen comrades” in Acton’s Fairview Cemetery has seen better days.

According to the Acton Legion history, monument dealer John Nicol donated the original Soldiers’ Memorial in May 1920. It was placed by the Great War Veterans Association in front of the Acton Soldiers Memorial Home at 55 Mill St E (now the MacKinnon Family Funeral Home). Six months later, the community cenotaph was dedicated across the street. In 1923, the GWVA monument was moved to the GWVA plot in Section R of Fairview Cemetery.

Monday Monuments and Memorials – Canadian Legion Calgary (Alberta No. 1) Branch, Calgary AB

Canadian Legion, Calgary Branch at 116 – 7 Avenue SE

Plaque tells history of Great War Veterans’ Association building in Calgary

The end of WW1 saw a proliferation of veterans groups and regimental associations working to help returned soldiers in Canada. Their fragmented efforts did not lead to great success. Several groups came together to form the Canadian Legion of the British Empire Service League in 1926. This history is evident on the facade of the Canadian Legion Calgary (Alberta No. 1) Branch at 116 – 7 Avenue SE.