While officially incorporated in 1988, the story of the Brant County War Memorial Committee began with a public meeting on January 27th, 1921. It was agreed that a War memorial would be built to pay tribute to the area men and women who lost their lives in WWI.
In 1923, the Brant War memorial Association was incorporated under an Act of Parliament. Walter S. Allward, the designer of the Vimy Ridge Memorial located in France, was engaged to design and erect the monument at a cost of $75,000.00. The Association agreed on the following. “The design should be impressive, column, and simple and of high artistic quality, which will ensure its appreciation for all time.”
The Association’s five year plan to raise the required funds could not be realized and it was 12 years before the monument was completed. The memorial was unveiled on May 23rd, 1933, although not as planned. The original design for the monument by W.S. Allward included a group of bronze sculptures to represent “Humanity”, consisting of a wounded youth, a resolute mother, a figure praying and a piece of crippled field artillery. Those statues can be seen on the cover of the Souvenir Book from the dedication ceremony.
The years following 1933 gave no financial opportunity to finish the monument with the bronze sculptures and the plan was abandoned.
The focus shifted in 1954 when a decision was made to add a Granite gallery at the rear of the existing memorial on which the names of the fallen from the Second World War and the Korean War would be displayed. A design by Mr. Charles Brooks was approved and Cromar Construction Company completed the work.
On July 2nd, 1956 The Remembrance Gallery was unveiled and dedicated. These words: “THEIR FIGHT WAS NOT FOR GAIN, GLORY, HONOUR OR PRIDE, BUT FOR THE FREEDOMS WE CHERISH IN DEMOCRACY – THIS IS A CITIZEN’S MEMORIAL” was said by the Honourable Ross Macdonald. There are 339 names inscribed in the Gallery.
A service station remained on one corner of the property. The gas station owner sold his property to the Association in 1960 and the Memorial Square, as it was known then, was completed by the Brantford Parks Board. Considering their work completed, the Brant War memorial Association disbanded and their Charter was surrendered.
By 1987, years of neglect, time and weather had taken its toll. Ex-Service Organizations within Brant County met with the idea of naming a new committee. It was agreed that the name would be Brant County War memorials Committee. On 8 December 1988, the Brant Country War Memorials Committee was incorporated with the Province of Ontario.
With renewed purpose, a contract was signed with Helen Granger Young of Winnipeg to design and sculpt 7 bronze statues. Three male statues would represent Members of the royal Canadian Navy, Canadian Army and Royal Canadian Air Force. Four female bronze statues would represent Nursing Sister of the Royal Canadian medical Corps, Women’s Royal Canadian Naval Service, Canadian Women’s Army Corps and Royal Canadian Air force – Women’s division. At a cost of $370,000.00, completion was scheduled for the fall of 1992.
The unveiling and dedication ceremony took place on September 12th, 1992. A Bronze Plaque, with these words will be unveiled at the same time:
THESE SEVEN BRONZE STATUES ARE DEDICATED TO THE MEMORY OF ALL BRNT COUNTY CITIZENS HWO MADE THE “SUPREME SACRIFICE” AND TO COMMEMORATE OUR LODCAL ARMED FORCES VETERANS WHO DID SO HONOUR THEIR COMMUNITY, THEIR COUNTY, AND THEMSELVES FOR THE CAUSE OF THE PEACE AND FREEDOM.
The Brant County War Memorial Committee stand strong in it’s commitment to maintain our historic memorials and honour the memory of those who gave their lives for our Freedom. We pay tribute to those who have served and continue to serve Canada in times of war, conflict and peace-keeping.
Our current project is to raise funds for a new bronze statue to honour our areas fallen in WWI. We are accepting donations. Your support is critical in our efforts to educate and build awareness for the rich and diverse military history of Brantford, Brant County and the Six Nations. Lest we forget.
Brant County War Memorials Committee:
Don Spiece – Chairperson
Edward Chrzanowski – Acting Secretary
Derek Pite – Executive Member
Scott Clare – Executive Member
Please contact us if you have questions or comments.
