Roots & Remembrance is a project that commemorates the young men of Montreal West who lived among us and died for us. Since its inception in 2014, posters and banners of 42 World War II veterans have been placed throughout the Town indicating where the men lived, studied, and worshipped. This allows us to better understand how little of our Town was left unaffected by the happenings across the Atlantic Ocean. With the creation of a walking tour map, we hope to provide a deeper glimpse into the lives of these individuals and the roles they played in a greater conflict. There were few battles where Canadians, and Montreal Westers, did not play a part; it is the sacrifice of these men that we commemorate each Remembrance Day and keep in our hearts every other day of the year.

Read Putting faces and stories to cenotaph names in Montreal West, a lovely article by The Globe and Mail about the annual Remembrance Walk led by Dr. Drummond.

All historical and biographical information was provided by Dr. Robert Drummond, who is currently writing a book on the subject; the biographies were written by the GIS team of Montreal West Public Works.

NOTE: The numbering system featured in the map is based on the geographic location of stops; it does not provide a particular suggested route.

    Donald Brain
    Major, Army
    1919-1943 (24 years old)

   

    Thomas Reginald Brain
    Lance Corporal, Army
    1921-1945 (25 years old)

    Richard Walter Vokey
    Flying Officer, Air Force
    1923-1944 (21 years old)

    Donald Wallace Clarke
    Pilot Officer, Air
    1919-1944 (24 years old)

    Edward Anderson Paterson
    Flying Officer, Air Force
    1923-1945 (22 years old)

    Forrest Walker Wiggins
    Captain, Army
    1912-1941 (28 years old)

    Donald Frederick Wilson
    Pilot Officer, Air Force
    1921-1944 (23 years old)

    Hugh Cameron Fulton
    Lieutenant, Navy
    1923-1944 (21 years old)

    Clarence Dexter Schnebly
    First Lieutenant, Air Force
    1912-1943 (31 years old)

    Gordon William Wright
    Electrical Sub-Lieutenant, Navy
    1920-1944 (23 years old)

    Wilfred Bark
    Sub-Lieutenant, Navy
    1922-1943 (20 years old)

    William Frank Tudhope
    Pilot Officer, Air
    1919-1940 (21 years old)

    Thomas Johnstone
    Pilot Officer, Air Force
    1922-1943 (21 years old)

    William George Roddy
    Flight Sergeant, Air Force
    1920-1942 (22 years old)

    Robert Warren Conway
    Flying Officer, Air Force
    1917-1943 (26 years old)

    Francis Bernard Croke
    Flight Sergeant, Air Force
    1919-1932 (23 years old)

    Hugh Stanley Brydges
    Captain, Army
    1914-1944 (30 years old)

    Thomas Melville Pethick
    Flying Officer, Air Force
    1922-1943 (21 years old)

    Charles Peter Rodger Stevens
    Lieutenant, Navy
    1922-1945 (23 years old)

    Philip Spalding Mainguy
    Ordinary Seaman, Navy
    1921-1944 (23 years old)

    Charles William Cyril Crowdy
    Flying Officer, Air Force
    1922-1944 (21 years old)

    Harry Cameron Beattie
    Sergeant, Air Force
    1920-1942 (22 years old)

    Peter Yeates Williams
    Flying Officer, Air Force
    1921-1943 (22 years old)

   

    Thomas James Muir
    Flying Officer, Air Force
    1921-1943 (22 years old)

    Jack Dennison Johnston
    Flying Officer, Air Force
    1914-1945 (30 years old)

    Louis Macadam Duff
    Leading Aircraftman, Air
    1917-1944 (27 years old)

    Henry Calvin Chambers Read
    Flying Officer, Air Force
    1919-1944 (24 years old)

    Richard Arthur Laing
    Pilot Officer, Air
    1916-1942 (25 years old)

    Lloyd George Higginson
    Pilot Officer, Air
    1917-1942 (25 years old)

    John Roy Freeland
    Pilot Officer, Air Force
    1918-1941 (23 years old)

    Donald Clifford Bissell
    Flying Officer, Air Force
    1913-1944 (30 years old)

    Gordon Stanley Kimber
    Flying Officer, Air Force
    1922-1944 (22 years old)

    Seward Terry Modeland
    Flight Sergeant, Air Force
    1921-1941 (19 years old)

    Jesse Augustus Baldwin
    Flying Officer, Air Force
    1911-1941 (29 years old)

   

    Owen Munro Wovenden Clarson
    Flying Officer, Air Force
    1922-1945 (22 years old)

   

    Frederick Arthur Horning
    Flying Officer, Air Force
    1921-1944 (23 years old)

   

    David Sinclair Jacobs
    Wing Commander, Air Force
    1915-1944 (29 years old)

   

    Robert John Stansbury
    Private, Army
    1922-1944 (22 years old)

 

    Robert Oliver Armstrong
    Leading Telegraphist, Navy
    1913-1944 (31 years old)

   

    Robert Alexander Bryant
    Private, Army
    1919-1942 (23 years old)

   

    Hubert Oberlin Lough
    Captain, Army
    1902-1943 (41 years old)

   

    George Henry Herbert Marks
    Warrant Officer Class II, Air Force
    1912-1943 (29 years old)

The Town of Montreal West Commemorative Tree and Bench Program is a wonderful opportunity for the public to celebrate a person or occasion by purchasing a tree or bench for installation in a public park. Friends and families can create a dedication or memorial. Each dedication carries a different story through the words engraved on the plaque. These lovely dedications with their plaques serve as a lasting reminder or a timeless gift to a loved one.

The dedications are an attractive and useful addition to our recreational areas and are much appreciated by the many citizens who visit and use Town parks every day.

Commemorative gifts can be donated for life events such as marriages, births, deaths, graduations, anniversaries, birthdays, retirements, or special events. Whatever the occasion, the legacy is yours to give.

Contribute to beautifying the Town

The program contributes in a very special way to the greening and beautification of our city and increases park amenities. It is coordinated by the Recreation Department and maintained by the Public Works Department. Donations to the Commemorative Tree and Bench program are tax deductible.

This program is a full-cost recovery initiative. Your donations help beautify and green Montreal West municipal parks as well as celebrate a life event. Each commemorative tree is $250.00 which includes the supply of the tree and its installation and maintenance. An associated plaque can be purchased for $100.00. Each commemorative bench is $1900.00 which includes the plaque and installation.

Your tree or bench will serve as a legacy for generations to come!

Currie, the first native born Canadian to lead a Canadian Corps in the First World War, unveiled the monument on October 21, 1921. The bronze statue of a Canadian soldier on a granite pedestal was sculpted by Geo. W. Hill. It is dedicated to the men and women who gave their life during the First and Second World Wars.

Learn more