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 Memorial Park Cenotaph - Kamloops, BC Posted by:  T0SHEA
N 50° 40.398 W 120° 20.162
10U E 688225 N 5616881
On Battle Street at Second Avenue is a small park which was created as a memorial to World War I soldiers who died in battle. It was dedicated in 1925, containing one of only two cenotaphs in Canada including a clock.
Waymark Code: WMMCTA
Location: British Columbia, Canada
Date Posted: 09/01/2014
Views: 1
This cenotaph was a project of the Ladies' Auxiliary of the precursor to the Legion, the Great War Veterans Association (GWVA). Founded in 1917, the GWVA was Canada's largest and most influential veterans organization until it merged with other groups in 1925 to create the Canadian Legion, which later became the Royal Canadian Legion.
Memorial Park Cenotaph
Constructed in 1925.
A Ladies' Auxiliary to the Great War Veterans Association was started in 1919 to aid the club and to choose a memorial to war veterans.
The auxiliary held bazaars and other fund-raising affairs to raise money for this purpose. It was decided by them to have a clock as part of the memorial.
Location of the Memorial was a matter of much discussion for several years. In June 1923, a plebiscite was held, the majority favouring a site in the 400-block, Victoria.
On June 22, 1923, an ad was inserted in the Standard by the Auxiliary to the G.W.V. Association for tenders to erect the clock. The clock had already been purchased by them from Benson's of England at a cost of $1,063.00 in December of 1921. A bazaar was held by the Auxiliary that month at which $833.00 was raised. In January 1924, a request was made to the City for help for the memorial and the Mayor appointed the finance committee to act on this.
It was reported at the February 7, 1924, Council meeting that a meeting of representative bodies had met and decided City Council be asked to provide the balance of the money to complete the Memorial. A motion was passed that a by-law be introduced authorizing a loan to borrow the necessary amount.
Voting took place March 15, 1924, and By-Law 389 for $3,800.00 was approved.
Further discussion took place about location, and By-Law 402 was voted on with four choices:
N/E corner of Battle & 2nd
Stuart Wood School grounds, 3rd & St. Paul
Coronation Park (Riverside)
Victoria St. between 4th & 5th Av.
June 20, 1924, the choice favoured for the Memorial was the N/E corner of Battle & 2nd. Tenders were called and Art Monument Company Ltd. of Vancouver was the successful bidder. Their quote of $5,000.00 was accepted on Sept. 11/24, which included the cost of fixing the mechanism and dials of the clock.
On December 5, 1924, Architect W. H. MacAulay was asked to prepare plans of Memorial Hill - to be laid out and beautified in the future.
The Memorial was duly finished and the unveiling took place on May 24, 1925.
From War Monuments in Canada
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Type of Memorial: Multi-War Memorial
Wars mentioned (Multi-war only):
World War I
World War II
Korean War
Afghanistan
In Honor Of: Our Glorious Dead
Marker Text:
CEF
Nor Time Nor Tide Can E'er Efface
The Memory of
Our Glorious Dead
Date of dedication: May 24th, 1925
Who Put it Here?: Great War Veterans Association
Description of Memorial:
Tall smooth-stone obelisk with stepped rough-stone base, stepped top, plaques on street facing side and clock faces in each of the four sides, near the top.
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