Legion Memorial Park Cenotaph

Located on the north side of Second Street West, east of Bedford Street, this is the City’s principal war memorial and the site of ceremonies on Remembrance Day and various others.

The cenotaph as it appeared in 1925, prior to 1967 enhancements.
The cenotaph as it appeared in 1925, prior to 1967 enhancements.
The cenotaph as it appears in 2022, subsequent to 1967 enhancements.

The Cenotaph’s History:

On Friday June 5, 1925 “Thousands” of Cornwall citizens turned out to witness Lord and Lady Byng unveil Cornwall’s War Memorial.

To initiate the ceremonies the vice-regal couple were met at the CNR train station by Mayor and Mrs. Snetsinger, Reeve Chevrier and Madame Chevrier, J.G. Harkness, town clerk, and Mrs. Harkness, Judge and Mrs. O’Reilly, Sheriff and Mrs. Mack, members of town council, and a 104-man strong veterans’ honour guard under the command of Captain G. Neil Phillips and the Cornwall City Band. After inspecting the honour guard, the party was taken by motorcade to inspect the new Courtaulds plant, giving the pipe band and guard time to march to Memorial Park.

Returning to the park after a tour of the town, His Excellency was welcomed to Cornwall by J.G. Harkness.

Lord Byng replied: “As representative of His Majesty the King, I thank you most sincerely for your welcome today. I much appreciate the sentiments of loyalty you have expressed, and I shall not fail to transmit them to our sovereign.”

“I have heard with interest the history you have given me of the early days of the district and the leaders it has produced; men who displayed the same qualities of endurance and courage which animated the magnificent body of men with who I was so proud to be associated during the war – the Canadian Corps. I shall in a few minutes unveil the monument to those members of that force that gave all that a man can give in the cause of right, and I would ask you to teach your children just what that memorial means.

It is not a mere piece of stone to be looked at and passed by. It is a reminder to all, not only of heroism displayed by those who fell, but that their gallant spirit is just as much needed now as it was then, for without mutual loyalty and sympathy the problems which are confronting Canada today can never be solved.

See that your children learn this; see that they understand the ideals of true Canadian citizenship. And if they, in their turn, grow up to be good citizens, those who died will not have made their sacrifice in vain.”

Repeating the message in French, Lady Byng was now presented with a bouquet of pink roses by Marguerite Larin. Followed by a prayer by Monsignor G. Corbet, his words were accompanied by the playing of “Lead Kindl Light.” A second prayer was now offered by veteran military chaplain James Faulds. Mayor Snetsinger now announced that there were over 80 names on the monument. With this statement completed, the Governor General then unveiled the monument while Bugler Peter Youmelle sounded the “Last Post.”

Inscribed: “erected by the Citizens of Cornwall and suburbs in sacred memory of those who gave their lives in the Great War of Liberty and Justice, 1914 – 1918.” The closing prayer was offered by Reverend W. Netten, Rector of Trinity Church.

Architect Emmanuel Kahn constructed the monument for the Thompson Monument Company of Toronto at a cost of $10,000 ($155,000 in 2022 dollars.)

The Carman house with expanded Legion facilities

After the Second World War, Cornwall Branch 297 of the Royal Canadian Legion (John McMartin Memorial) resolved that as: “We already have a very fine Memorial for our Comrades who fell in the Great War…it was therefore concluded unnecessary to erect a similar one. It was felt, however, that a more practical manner would be to erect a permanent building to be used as Community Centre as an expression of our deep and lasting appreciation of their dedication to the cause of freedom.”
A.W. Gammon, Chairman.

The Canadian Military Memorials Database lists the park here and the cenotaph here.

World War I (1914 – 1918) claimed the lives of 88 men:

Name & RankBttnSvc #DeathParentsLocal MemCVWMCWGC
AIREY, Frederick Charles, Pte38th Bn, 59th410232KIA 1916Sister: Mrs. Edgar LoceyCWGC
ATCHISON, Henry, Pte21st Bn1042258KIA 1917 at PasschendaeleFGCWGC
BENOIT, Albert, Pte2nd Bn. 59th Bn8181KIA 1918Albert & Delima A Benoit, Chambly, QCFGCWGC
BERO, (W) Arthur, Pte38th Bn410685KIA 1917 at PasschendaeleNelson & Madeline BeroFGCWGC
BREBANT, Francis (Frank) John, PteDepot Bn33253621918 at OttawaBasil & Mary Louise BrebantLocalCVWMCWGC
BRUNET, Louis Isaac, Pte59th Bn, ON, HQ, Kingston455788KIA 1917 at VimyLouis & Sophia BrunetFGCVWMCWGC
BUCKLEY, Walter Leonard, Cpl154th Bn & 1st Machine Gun Section633054
CAMPBELL, Hugh James MunroeCentral ON Rgt, 3rd Bn633026KIA 1917Hugh & Edith CampbellFG
Local		CWGC
CARRIERE, Philias, Pte59th Bn455339KIA 1916 at VerdunJohn CarriereFGCWGC
CHAMBERS, William Allan, SignKIA 1917 at Lens
CHANT, Robert Frederick, Pte240th Bn, PPLI1042423KIA 1918FGCWGC
CLARK, Ernest T. P., Pte59th, 39th Bn454669Disch 1916Annie Clark
COE, James Henry Jr., Pte59th455724Disch 1919George & Harriott Coe
CROSSLEY, Henry, Pte74th Bn & 5th Cdn Mounted Rifles135682KIA 1916 at the SommeCharles & Rebecca CrossleyLoc
FG		CVWMCWGC
CROSSLEY, John, Pte154th Bn & 21st BN633616Died from wounds at Passchendaele 1917Charles & Rebecca CrossleyLoc
FG		CVWMCWGC
CURRIER, Howard, Pte38th Bn633139KIA 1917Paul CurrierLocCVWMCWGC
DE GRAY, Lawrence, Pte154th Bn & 21st Bn633006KIA 1917John & Margaret D GrayLoc
FG		CVWMCWGC
DELANEY, Stanley Albert, Pte38th BnFG
DE ROCHIE, MATTHEW C., LtRoyal Flying CorpsKIA aerial combat
1917
DESROSIERS, Frank
DEWAR, Duncan Alexander, Sgt/Pte154th Bn & 35th BnKIA 1918FG
DOUGLAS, Austin, Pte42nd Bn (Royal Highlanders of Can. aka Black Watch)418898Died of
wounds 1918		CVWMCWGC
DUPRAS, Peter A., Pte 41st Bn417894KIA 1916Peter & Marseine DuprasFGCWGC
EASTMAN, Clifford John, Pte109th Bn, (Victoria & Haliburton)725093KIA 1916 at
Vimy Ridge		Carmi & Ellen EastmanCWGC
FETTERLEY, W. M. Grant, Sgt18th Bn265263KIA 1919A.C. FetterleyCWGC
FREEMAN, Ralph, Pte21st Bn59344KIA 1916James & Annie FreemanCWGC
GAGNE, Alfred, Pte21st Bn, 59th455739KIA 1917Edward GagneCWGC
GALLINGER, George Nelson, LCPL38th Bn410744KIA 1916Daniel & Elizabeth GallingerFGCVWMCWGC
GALLINGER, Ralph, Pte154th, 38th Bn634154KIA 1918William GallingerFGCVWMCWGC
GALLINGER, Robert Jacob, Pvt222 Bn, 44th Bn292166KIA 1917William & Margaret GallingerFGCVWMCWGC
GALLINGER, Samuel Phil(l)ip, Pvt61st Bn, 11th Bn461355KIA 1916Joseph & Mary GallingerFGCVWMCWGC
GERVAIS, George,
GILLIES, BRUCE A., Pte21st Bn
GILMETTE, Wilfred
GRANT, Alexander R.
GRANT, Clifford Alexander, Pte240th, 38th BnKIA 1918
HALE, George, Sgt59th Bn, 455318Presumed KIA 1916 J.J. & Eliza HaleCVWMCWGC
HAMILTON, C. Dickinson, M.D., Dr. & Mrs. Charles Hamilton
HARDING, Charles, PtePPLI227KIA 1915CVWMCWGC
HARPS, Thomas, Pte77th, 47thGassed at Vimy Ridge, 1917
HART, Cornelius, Pte154th Bn
HAWTHORNE, Walter
HERMISTON, Stuart Siddons, Pte5th Cdn Mounted Rifles Bn110237Presumed KIA 1916Mark & Elizabeth HermistonCVWMCWGC
JARVIS, George, Pte4th Cdn Mounted Rifles Bn2197081919Henry & Leonore JarvisLocalCVWMCWGC
KINGHORN, Herbert Clayton, Cpl38th Bn410795KIA 1917Arthur & Eva KinghornCVWMCWGC
KITTLE, Herbert William, Pvt21st Bn633200KIA 1917William J. & Hannah KittleCCMCVWMCWGC
LALONDE, Alexander, DCM (MM) L/Cpl38th BnKIA 1917 Passchendaele
LATOUR, U. Emile, Pte59th BnKIA 1916 Ypres
LOCEY, John Alexander, Sgt253rd Bn, 252nd Bn, 21st Bn1090054KIA 1918Levi & Lydia LoceyCVWMCWGC
LONEY, Oscar Hugh, PvtMachine Gun Corps113366KIA 1917Wallace A. LoneyCVWMCWGC
LOWELL, Bruce M., Pte59th Bn
MacMILLAN, David, probably PtePPCLI
McGILLIVRAY, Mudrie E, Pte253rd BnGassed 1918
McPHERSON, George
MIRON, Fred
MOORE, Lanee D.
MOSS, Archibald A., Cpl253rd BnWounded at Passchendaele, Amiens
MUNROE, Donald A.
MUNROE, Murdock J., PtePPCLIKIA 1915
MURCH, Clarence
PAYMENT, John
PEARSON, Alfred
PELKEY, Felix, Sapper11th Bn Canadian Railway Troops633047KIA 1918FGCVWMCWGC
PENDERGAST, Francis (Frank) Thomas, Lt21st BnKIA 1917James & A. PendergastFGCVWMCWGC
POOLE, Kingsbury T., PteWounded, taken prisoner and died 1918
ROBERTS, Fred W.
RUSSELL, William, Cpl80th Bn, (organized at Barriefield)KIA 1918 Lens
SUAVE, Edward
SAVARD, David
SHERMAN, Hiram P.
STODDART, W. Arthur
St. PIERRE, Romeo
TEARRO, Julius D.
TILTON, Clinton N.
TREMBLAY, Adelore
TYO, Arthur
TYO, Edward, Pte18th Bn., (Western ON, London)KIA 1918
TYO, Frank, Pte154th Bn & PPCLIKIA 1918 at CambraICVWM
TYO, James Henry, Pte21st Bn633937KIA 1917CVWMCWGC
TYO, Joseph
WALE, Charles W., Pte47th Bn, BC
WARD, DONALD John, Pte4th Canadian Mounted Rifles113617KIA 1916Catherine WardFGCVWMCWGC
WATSON, Wallace W.
  • World War II claimed the lives of 96 men:
  • ABRAMS, STANLEY W., possibly SDGH
  • ALGUIRE, WERELY O., SDGHS
  • ANDREWS, MACDONALD J.,
  • ANDREWS, NEWARK T.,
  • ARMSTRONG, MACOLMN E.T., SDGH
  • ARMSTRONG, PERCY K.,
  • ASSELIN, HAYDEN C., Lt., SDGH
  • ATCHISON, J. WALLACE,
  • BAKER, L. PHILIP,
  • BARBER, IRVINE A.M.,
  • BARKER, ROGER W., SDGH
  • BAZINET, HERCULES,
  • BEAUREGARD, ALDONA,
  • BELANGER, RICHARD N.,
  • BENNETT, WILLIAM A.,
  • BERGERON, HOWARD A., SDGH
  • BETTRIDGE, OLIVER A.,
  • BIRKS, RICHARD S.,
  • BLANCHARD, FLORIEN,
  • BOALS, GLENN,
  • BOUCHARD, JOSEPH J.,
  • BOUGH, ROY E.,
  • BOUTILLIER, RALPH H.,
  • BRADY, LAWRENCE E. J.,
  • BRENNAN, ROBERT N.,
  • BRINGLOE, JAMES H.,
  • BROWNING, WILLIAM G.,
  • BRUNETTE, JACK,
  • BRUYERE, HECTOR J.,
  • BULLOCH, JOSEPH,
  • BURGESS, WALTER,
  • CAMPBELL, DONALD W.,
  • CARPENTER, CHARLES A.,
  • CARRIERE, LAURENT,
  • CARRIERE, GABRIEL G.,
  • CAZALY, DUNCAN,
  • CERULLO, J. ARMAND,
  • CHEVRIER, GEORGE A.,
  • CHEVRIER, LAWRENCE,
  • CHOLLETTE, HENRY A., SDGH
  • COLLINS, ALBERT C.,
  • COLUCCI ANGELO S.,
  • CRITES CLINTON A.,
  • DALLY JAMES W.,
  • DEEBANK PERCY,
  • DENIS WILFRED E.,
  • DENNY LOYES,
  • DESJARDINS PERCY P.,
  • DORRANCE THOMAS K.,
  • DOUGALL JOHN B.,
  • DOXSEE ARTHUR F.,
  • DRUMMOND CLARENCE J.P.,
  • DUNSEITH PETER A.,
  • DUPUIS BERNARD J.,
  • EARLE JOHN C.M.,
  • EMOND ROMEO J.,
  • FAWTHROP DONALD A.,
  • FAWTHROP ROSS C., Lt, SDGH
  • FETTERLEY ELDRED,
  • GALLINGER CECIL W.,
  • GALLINGER CLARENCE A.,
  • GAUTHIER J. WILFRED,
  • GAUTHIER PAUL R.,
  • GILLIS DONALD R.,
  • GRANT B. CAMERON, Lt, SDGH
  • GREER JAMES M.,
  • GROVES FRANKLIN J.,
  • GUNN ROBERT W.,
  • HARRISON ARTHUR,
  • HARTLEY JAMES W., Lt, SDGH
  • HERRINGTON HENRY N.,
  • HEWARD WILIAM,
  • HUNTER GEORGE F., Lt, SDGH
  • IRVINE HOWARD C.,
  • JARVO FRANCIS A.,
  • JASMIN HERBERT E.,
  • JODOIN EUCLIDE N., Lt, SDGH
  • JODOIN J., ARTHUR,
  • KEDDY WALTER B.,
  • KENNEDY JOHN, SDGH
  • LALONDE D. WILLMONT,
  • LALONDE JOSEPH B.R.,
  • LALONDE LAWRENCE J.,
  • LANT C. BYRON,
  • LAPIERRE REGINALD M.,
  • LASCELLE LOUIS,
  • LATOUR LEO A. J.,
  • LAUBER CHARLES H., SDGH
  • LAUZON HOWARD R.,
  • LAVALLEE VIATEUR,
  • LEBANO FRANK G.,
  • LEBANO JOSEPH,
  • LEBANO VINCENT J.L.,
  • LEBLANC, DENZIL GEORGE, Royal Canadian Infantry Corps, buried at St. Columban Cemetery
  • LEBLANC, GEORGE, (probably “I” SDGH)
  • LEDUC J.B. LAURIER,
  • LEFEBVRE GORDON R.,
  • LEGROULX RODOLPHE C.,
  • LONEY WELLINGTON J.,
  • MacCOSHAM W. RAYMOND,
  • MacDOUGALL JOHN E.,
  • MacGILLIVRAY BORDEN,
  • MacINTYRE DONALD,
  • MacLEOD, JAMES C.,
  • MacMILLAN JOHN M.,
  • MacNEIL DONALD G.,
  • McDONALD ANDREW B.,
  • McDONALD DONALD JOHN,
  • McDONALD FRANCIS R., SDGH
  • McDONALD WILLIAM JAMES, SDGH
  • McGILLIVRAY AUBREY L.,
  • McINTOSH W, PHILIP M.,
  • McMARTIN DONALD J.,
  • McRAE DONALD E.,
  • McWILLIAMS JOHN A., SDGH
  • MADEN E. KITCHENER,
  • MALYON WILLIAM T.,
  • MAREOLAIS BERNARD J.,
  • MARTEL LAWRENCE,
  • MASSON J. LLOYD,
  • MAZZONE, VINCENT J., American 66th Infantry Division, locally commemorated at St. Columban Cemetery
  • MERPAW WILLIAM T.,
  • MERPAW WILLIAM LEO,
  • MILLER GLENN B.,
  • MILNE DONALD J., SDGH
  • MITCHELL HAROLD V.,
  • MONAHAN EARL J.,
  • MONK DAVID,
  • NADEAU LAURENT J.O.,
  • NURSE ALFRED E.,
  • O’PARRELL LAWRENCE C.,
  • O’GRADY JOHN E.,
  • O’REILLY RICHARD J.,
  • PARKS JAMES G.,
  • PATTERSON GUY R.,
  • PAUPST PERCY W.,
  • PIERCEY ARTHUR C.,
  • PHILLIPS G. MACLEAN,
  • POLTRAS JAMES E.,
  • POLLARD GEORGE G., SDG, murdered by the SS, while a prisoner, June 1944
  • PONLEDZIELSKI JOSEPH,
  • PRICE KENNETH G.,
  • PRIDDEN WILLIAM E.B.,
  • PRIMEAU HENRY,
  • PROULX AUGUSTUS,
  • QUENNEVILLE DELMER J.,
  • REDMOND JAMES J.,
  • REID ROBERT B.,
  • RELYEA WILLIAM R.E.,
  • REVILL HARVEY S.,
  • ROBERTSON GERALD E.,
  • ROBERTS HERBERT T.,
  • ROBINSON MATTHEW S.,
  • ROSS-ROSS PETER D.,
  • ROTH R. TAIT,
  • RUFFO DOMINIC,
  • SABURN FRANK,
  • SANDELIN ROBERT S.,
  • SAUVE JAMES EARL,
  • SEGUIN RAYMOND A.,
  • SHAVER JAMES R,
  • SHUTTS CLIFFORD F.,
  • SINFIELD ARTHUR,
  • SNETSINGER ARNOLD,
  • SPOTTEN LEONARD F.,
  • STUART JAMES F.P.,
  • SUGDER ALBERT,
  • SWAINSON JOHN L.,
  • TAILLON ADRIAN F.,
  • THERIEN C. HECTOR,
  • THOMAS NELSON J.,
  • THOMPSON FORD A.,
  • TOUCHETTE DAVID D.,
  • TYO WILLIAM W.,
  • VIAU RAYMOND G.,
  • VIPOND DALTON E.,
  • WAITE ALBERT W.,
  • WALDORF J. EDGAR,
  • WEBSTER ARTHUR P.,
  • WILLIAMS FRED, Lt., SDG
  • WILLIS, JAMES,
  • WITFORD, ALFRED J.

The Korean War claimed the lives of 3 men:

  • CAMPEAU, MAURICE J.M.,
  • GALLINGER, PAUL H.,
  • STEER, DONALD H.