The question of what to do with the decaying old rock cairn and the faded and rusted cross on the boulevard at the corner of High and Huron has dragged on for more than two years, and even longer for some.
When we look around the county, we see some beautiful and ornate Memorial Areas that provide their communities with an area that represents, in a significant manner “all” of those that served in past conflicts.
This morning, I was thinking about a couple of things that “everyone” in our town was excited about that happened here in the years following WWI.
When War was declared on Germany in August of 1914, our population had not yet reached 1,500. Surprisingly, by 1918 when it ended, there had been 207 men and one lady (Bessie Taylor-Nursing Sister) who had put their left hand on a bible, raised their right hand, and had sworn allegiance to the King and their country. It is hard to imagine having 208 volunteers from less than a total of 1,500.
There were 23 of the men who did not come back. They had died in action in Europe. Across Canada there was a widespread feeling that every municipality was duty bound to create lasting memorials to their fallen heroes. In many of the towns and cities the idea of memorial avenues lined with Maple trees became popular. In one article, I read that Memorial Avenues of remembrance were being created in many larger communities.
And then there it was; “Some smaller communities also joined the movement: Southampton, Ontario (population 1,537) reported in 1924 that an avenue of 23 maple trees had been planted”.
Today, I believe that all 23 are gone. The ones between Albert and Grosvenor were originally in the cut squares in the sidewalk that exist today with flower boxes. As they grew there became issues with buildings and power lines. One or two may still exist between Grosvenor and Huron.
There was another major step of recognition that happened following WWI and that was in 1922. Our town hall was built in 1910 with a budget of $11,000 by the original Peter Knechtel. The town could not find the money needed for clocks so there weren’t any until 1922.
Charles Martin Bowman was by far the most significant community leader in our town from the 1880s to the 1930s. He was also our Provincial MPP for 19 years. He began a major fundraiser to get the clocks as a memory of those who served in WWI. The unveiling happened on December 15, 1922, at 2:30 p.m. “In Honoured Memory of the Men of Southampton and Saugeen Reseve.” All of those from Southampton and Saugeen First Nation who had served in WWI were named in the program.
Many had multiple members of the same family who had enlisted. Those with four or more from the same families were Buckley, Farley, Gillies, Knechtel, McAulay, Mcvittie, and Shular. There are hundreds of descendants of these brave men living in Southampton today.
Our ancestors cared about them “all” and so should we.
Hopefully, the final “Memorial Area” that is created will make us all proud of these 208 from WWI, and I expect a similar number from WWII.
WE SHALL REMEMBER THEM
by G.William Streeter
January, 2025
