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Lloydminster was among the thousands of communities across
Canada that marked the unparalleled loss of life in World War I with cenotaphs
commemorating the war dead. Below is the newspaper account of the
proceedings at the unveiling of the cenotaph.
The occasion brought together a cross section of
Lloydminster's past and future. The cenotaph was placed intentionally in
front of the new Public School for two reasons: one, to present the example of
service above self which the soldiers represented as an object lesson to the
coming generations who would attend the school and, two, because in the school
building were encapsulated all the community's pride in having come so far, from
open prairie to imposing brick structures in little more than 20 years, as well
as all its hopes for a bright and prosperous future. Symbolically, those
present ranged from the students to Lloydminster's founding father, Bishop G. E.
Lloyd.
Note as well the rhetoric of the era and consider how
outraged those present in 1926 would have been at the notion considered in 1999
that the cenotaph could easily be moved to another "more convenient
location" to allow for commercial development on the site.
Bishop of Saskatchewan Unveils War Memorial;
1500 Present
Lloydminster Times, April 1926
Sunday last was a red-letter day in the annuls of Lloydminster and
district, the occasion being the unveiling of the fine war memorial and the
formal handing over of the same to the town, village and district.
This splendid cenotaph has been erected in perhaps the most suitable
place it could be, viz: in front of the new public school where the children of
coming generations will be constantly reminded of those who laid down their
lives in the cause of justice and righteousness in the Great War.
Although the roads were in a very bad state owing to the heavy rains of
Friday night, yet scores of cars came in from all points, and including the
school children, formed around the structure, there were probably at least 1,500
persons present. On the platform
erected alongside the monument were the Bishop of Saskatchewan (Bishop Lloyd) in
his bishop’s scarlet robes, Rev. A. Cross (Rector), Father Dobson (Catholic)
T. F. Lund (Union), J. Lloyd Hughes (Presbyterian); L Freeman, Northminster;
Catechists Darby and Smith; Capt. Tobin, Salvation Army, and two cadets; the
Mayor (W. L. Cameron, Esq.); Reeve J. D. Munro: Col. Laws (President of the War
Memorial Committee); Messrs. Gordon Cook, (Chairman of the school board) and S.
M. Daly and A. S. Pollard (church-wardens).
The Citizens’ Band and the combined choirs of the churches led the
singing of the hymns, etc., under the direction of Mrs. A. Cross. The
proceedings commenced by the singing of “O Canada,” and the hymn “O God Our
Help in Ages Past,” then Father Dobson offered prayer.
Col. Laws, D.S.O., C. de G., in his opening remarks said:
“My Lord Bishop and fellow citizens of Lloydminster and district, this
memorial has been erected to the memory of those lads who laid down their lives
in the Great War. I have the
pleasure of handing over the memorial to the Mayor of the Town of Lloydminster
[Saskatchewan] and the Reeve of [the village of] Lloydminster [Alberta], as
representing Lloydminster and district, and hope they will keep it as a place of
beauty. I personally knew most of
the lads whose names are on the monument and had the privilege of commanding
some of them, and there were no better soldiers than those brave lads.
The citizens of Lloydminster and district, in the erection of this
memorial have shown in a tangible way that they recognize what the soldiers
stood for. I hoped the place will
be cared for and handed down to future citizens as Lloydminster’s tribute to
the men of the district who have fallen. I
desired to, as the representative of the Memorial Committee, formally to now
hand over the monument to the town and village."
Mayor Cameron, in accepting the memorial on behalf of the town said:
“Your Lordship, Bishop Lloyd, Col. Laws and fellow citizens.
The duty of formally accepting into our keeping the memorial to our boys
who gave their lives in the Great War has fallen upon Mr. Munro and myself. Knowing the quality of the citizenship of the people of this
district and I refer to the entire district, -- for my part it is with an easy
mind that I accept this monument on your behalf, feeling confident that the
surroundings will ever accord with the nobleness of its purpose.
Let this monument ever remind us and those who are to follow, of the best
traditions of our race to live honorably and be true unto death."
Reeve Munro wished to endorse what the Mayor had said.
They were there to represent the citizens of the town and district, for
all had taken a share in the memorial. He
would give all the assistance in his power to the Mayor in trying to pass on as
a sacred trust what had now been committed to them.
It would be an object lesson to the young of what had been done by those
to who the memorial had been erected. The
Rev. T. F. Lund then read the Scripture lesson, after which Bishop Lloyd
addressed the big concourse of people.
"I would like
to say a word or two before the unveiling.
We are gathered here for a very special purpose, and the first thing that
struck me was that the memorial committee had decided to place the memorial in
the forefront of the new school building. They
did right. It was the custom in the
Old Testament days, to put a pile of stones in this place or that place, so that
the question might be asked in after days “What mean ye by these stones?”
It was by this means that a nation’s traditions could be built up.
This gathering is firstly a memorial service to show our
affection for those who laid down their lives.
We remember and cherish their memories – to the number of nearly 100.
They were men we knew and we respected and loved them because they did
this as an example of self-sacrifice. No
nation that endures is founded on selfishness.
The flags should float half-mast high for the first part of the memorial
service, but they should be raised to the top of the mast for the commemoration
of “our glorious dead” who looked forward to the continued
preservation of what they called the British Empire.
The best guarantee of that preservation is the acting
together of the English-speaking world, of which the British Empire is so large
a part. In order to maintain our
country, our flag and our empire there must be devotion to duty, which was so
strikingly exemplified by those who we are this day honouring.
There are others standing here today, who have not paid the supreme
sacrifice, but who have done everything but that.
We belong to a great race, and it was made great by such sacrifices as we
were celebrating today. We have
developed a national conscience and a national responsibility.
This is a religious gathering in which we are taking part
this day. Where are those men whose
names appear on the monument? Is
there nothing to be done for those who have done their duty?
Turn to the New testament and read such words as these “I would not
have you be ignorant brethren to mourn as those without hope, those who died in
Christ Jesus." All the way
through the Old Testament and the New, the emphasis is laid on our seeing what
is right, and then doing it. Those
we honour here did their duty, whether it led to reward or not; those who did
their duty to the uttermost, have not lost by it.
They have lost perhaps five, 10, 15 or 20 years down here.
They can say “We have done our duty to the very last; and now do
yours,” for they have died defending their country, so we must now build it
along right lines."
In closing, Bishop Lloyd said it was a matter to him of
great pleasure in being present that afternoon – and he used the word in the
fullest sense. He then pulled the
string that released the flags draped about the monument.
The Rev. J. Lloyd Hughes then offered the dedicatory
prayer.
After the unveiling the hymn “For All the Saints who from
Their Labours Rest,” was sung and the placing of wreaths at the foot of the
memorial was next in order.
The “Last Post” was then sounded by Mr. Herbert
Tebo, and the benediction by the Rev. A. Cross, L. The., (Rector) with the
National Anthem brought the proceedings to a close.
THE FLORAL
TRIBUTES were sent from the comrades of the fallen boys, the Churches and
Lodges, and from Town and Village, and relatives of those who had died for their
King and country:
“From the G.W.V.A.”
”The Ladies Auxillary of the G.W.V.A.”
“Sacred to the memory of J.R. Dalley, from his mother,”
“In loving memory of Frank, from Norah.”
“In loving memory of A. Pensom, from George and Sarah.”
“To H.J. Iremonger, from Mr. Stewart.”
“In loving memory of Cecil Lynch, from M.L.E.”
“In loving memory of Uncle Frank, from Howard.”
“In loving memory, from J.S. Phillpotts and family.”
"Sergt. Frank Everitt, from mother and sister.”
“In loving memory of Allan.”
“In sacred and deep loving memory of Lieut. Fernley
Winter Hainsby the pure devoted son of Mrs. E. Hainsby.”
"In loving memory of Allan, from brother and
sister."
"To our beloved brother, J. Dalley, from his brother,
sisters, and family."
“In sincere and loving memory of Fred, from home.”
“In affectionate memory of Bibby and Pape, from Capt. and
Mrs. C.A. J. Bowen.”
“In memory of Harold and Herbert Hathaway, from their
sister.”
“In loving memory of James Fred Smith, from brother and
sister.”
“In loving memory of Capt. A.H. Bibby from Mrs. Bibby and
children.”
“In loving memory of Uncle Allan (Sergt. A. Laws), from
Hilda and family.”
“In memory of W. Whitehead, from Mr. And Mrs. Bert Frost,
Doris and Phyllis.”
“Austin Bourne and James Ford, from Father and Mother.”
“In loving memory of Lieut. Cecil Hudson, from Mother.”
“In memory of Sergt. W. A. Johnson, from Mr. And Mrs. F.
Jenkinson.”
“In loving memory of Lieut. B. H. Rowles, from wife and
children.”
“The Town of Lloydminster.”
“Village of Lloydminster.”
“In memory of those who lost their lives, Knox
Presbyterian Church.”
“From the congregation of St. John’s Church.”
“In memory of our brave and glorious dead, from St.
Anthony’s Catholic Church.”
“With grateful memory, from the United Church.”
“From the Lloydminster Board of Trade.”
“With deepest sympathy, from the Officers and Brethren of
Britannia Lodge.”
“From Meridian Lodge, I.O.O.F.”
“Heartfelt remembrance, from the 32nd Batt.”
“In affectionate memory, from members of the Orange
Lodge.”
“From members of the Overseas Club, in memory of the
great sacrifice.”
“In proud memory of our fallen comrades, Officers and
N.C.O.’s and Men of 1st S.M.R.’s.”
“To the boys of the 9th C.M.R.’s from those
who returned.”
“In loving memory of our boys who fell, from a friend.”
“In memory of our friend, Bill Weeks.”
“In loving memory of Major C. B. Despard, from Mr. And
Mrs. Crossley.
Dozens of children also brought sprays and nosegays of
beautiful flowers without any inscription.
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