This life-size bronze sculpture depicts a First World War soldier seated on a bench with a newspaper on his lap and a duffle bag at his feet. It portrays and honours Lance Corporal Arthur Thomas Fleetwood, who served in France with the 47th Canadian Infantry Battalion of the Canadian Expeditionary Forces and died there of battle wounds in 1917.
The sculpture, a donation by the Fleetwood Community Association, is intended to inspire pride in the community by marking an aspect of its history and remembering one of its pioneers and soldiers. The memorial had been a vision of the Association’s for 10 years and was unveiled at a dedication ceremony on 6 September 2008. The community of Fleetwood was named in honour of Thomas Fleetwood shortly after his death.
In 1907, newcomers Edith and James Francis settled on land in the vicinity of what is now Fraser Highway and 160th Street. A few years later, other members of Edith’s immediate family, the Fleetwoods, joined them from England. On 18 August 1915, Edith’s brother, Arthur Thomas (Tom) Fleetwood, enlisted with the 47th Canadian Infantry Battalion of the Canadian Expeditionary Forces and was shipped overseas to France. On September 8, 1917, just two days after his 39th birthday, Lance Corporal Arthur Thomas Fleetwood died of wounds received in battle.
