Tofield Cenotaph

An excerpt from “Tales of Tofield” (book) Finally, the small group was forced to resign and return the charter. With $300 in the bank, which was earned in the G. W. V. A. days putting on dances and whist drives, and not wanting to send this money to Calgary, the group decided to build a cenotaph as a memorial to those in Tofield and district who had made the supreme sacrifice for Canada and the British Empire. Cde. Bill Chapman and John Letourneau drew up plans, similar to the Fort Scott Memorial. Cde. George Brace and H. Lovell (members of the town council) succeeded in getting a large donation from the town for this purpose. Deciding on the present location as best suited for the purpose, construction of the memorial took place using field stone collected from the farms in the Tofield district. The cairn was erected by Mr. Frank Hisey of Ross Creek, an old-time stonemason, and Fred Imler of the Gas Company donated pipe for the railing. The Boy Scouts cleaned out the bush in the trees at the back and were later given a lot just north of the legion where they erected the flagpole, making a place of beauty for a memorial Cairn and park, with a 50-foot frontage, which has been very well kept up through the years, and certainly is a credit to Tofield. Sunday, Nov. 12th, 1939, was destined to become the forerunner of many solemn gatherings at the new memorial which was unveiled that day by Major General W.A. Greisbach., who was the original O.C., of the 49th Edmonton Regiment. Approximately five or six hundred citizens assembled to witness the ceremony which started off with a parade of Veterans of the Boer War and World War I, together with 20 members of the Canadian Active Army. The ceremony continued with an address by Gen. Greisbach, after which an Invocation was given by Rev. D.K. Allan. A massed choir under the direction of L.A. Broughton, high school principal, led the singing, and wreathes were laid on behalf of the local community and Edmonton Branch of the Canadian Legion. No doubt that day made a deep impression on the hearts and minds of all present. During the war years that followed, the traditional duties were still kept alive by the fallen comrades in the mind of the community by ordering poppies which were sold by the faithful 1. 0. D. E. ladies. They kept up the parade and services at the cenotaph on Remembrance Day.