During the South African War, Colour-Sergeant G.W. Leonard fell in battle on May 11, 1900, and Corporal M. Davidson died of enteric fever on February 9, 1902. The bust of Colour-Sergeant Leonard stands before the Court House, but it was erected in memory of both men and unveiled on May 24, 1904. It was created by Beachville sculptor, Frederick C. Dunbar and erected by the people of the City of Woodstock and the County of Oxford. The monument was unveiled during the visit of the 13th Regiment of Hamilton and Lord Aylmer, the Adjutant-General of the Canadian Militia officiated the ceremony. Sergeants Lane, Wiltshire and McGinnis of the Oxford Rifles drew aside the colours draped over the memorial.
The two cannons are over one hundred and fifty years old. Requested by County Council and through the efforts of Hon. James Sutherland, the then federal member of Parliament for Oxford, they were obtained and erected in September, 1900. Dates of 1842 and 1843 are inscribed on the barrels of these muzzle-loading cannons.
