My VAC Account
My VAC Account
This cairn on the grounds of the Legislature Building is dedicated to all Korean War veterans, in particular the Albertans killed in action during the Korean War (1950-1953). The cairn was unveiled when the Korea Veterans Association held their national reunion in Edmonton in 1991.
Edmund Wright designed the Great War Veterans Association Memorial Hall 1918-19. The Memorial Hall remembered comrades who gave up their lives during WWI. The building was demolished.
See attached pics.
A sculpted triple V monument detailing a brief role and history of the Northwest and Yukon Terrorties Radio System and the importance it played in the develpoment of the north and to its population. In additon to the direct support to the polulace and develpoment of Canada's north, the names of soldiers,signallers and civilians who lost their lives during their employment within the Radio System are emblazoned on the monument.
Further details can be found at folllowing link:
www.rcsigs/index.php/NWT_and_Y_Radio_System_Memorial
The Memorial Chapel and hall, 1950-5, commemorates the dead from both World Wars. The stained glass memorial windows in the chapel were made by R. McCausland.
Pilot Officer Allen Stuart MacDonald born 1918, lost at sea, April 1945 erected by his family and in memory of Flight Lt High Munro Hope born 1918 kia Feb 22 1945 and in loving memory of their fallen comrades.
MAJOR GENERAL GRIESBACH SCHOOL
EDMONTON PUBLIC SCHOOLS
Major-General Griesbach School is named in honour of Major-General Griesbach. The school was originally attended by the children of military families stationed at Canadian Forces Base Edmonton, but is now a part of the Edmonton Public School Board. A new school, retaining the name, was opened on September 4, 2012, and is situated near the former school.
William Antrobus Griesbach was born in 1878 in Fort Qu’Appelle, Saskatchewan and moved to Edmonton with his family in 1883, graduating from St. John’s College in Winnipeg in 1895. He enlisted in the Canadian Mounted rifles in 1899 to fight in the Second Boer War and was awarded the Queen’s South Africa Medal with four bars. Upon his return in 1901, he opened a law office and was successfully elected to Edmonton Town Council in 1904. He tried his hand at federal politics in 1905, but returned to municipal politics and was elected mayor of Edmonton in 1906.
In 1906, Griesbach was commissioned as a lieutenant in the 19th Alberta Dragoons. He was promoted to captain in 1907. When the First World War began, the Dragoons volunteered as a unit. In December of that year, Griesbach was promoted to major and assigned to command the 49th Battalion. The unit served in various engagements, including the Battle of Vimy Ridge, the Battle of Arras, the Third Battle of Ypres, and the liberation of Mons. In 1917, Griesbach was promoted to Brigadier-General and assigned command of the 1st Canadian Infantry Brigade of the 1st Canadian Division. He was awarded the Distinguished Service Order twice and the Victorian Decoration for long service. He was also made a Companion of the Order of Bath, and a Companion of the Order of St. Michael and St. George. During the Second World War. He was made Inspector General of the Canadian Army for Western Canada and was promoted to the rank of Major-General. He retired from that position in 1943 and died in 1945.
[plaque]
THE BAILEY BRIDGE
The Bailey Bridge was developed during the Second World War By engineer Donald Bailey,
who worked in the British War Office. As a hobby he tinkered with model bridges and their
assembly. One day in 1940 he presented a unique idea to his chiefs and was encouraged to explore it further. By 1941, it was put into large scale production for the Allied attack on the
European mainland. The Bailey Bridge was designed as a collection of parts, which could be
easily transported in trucks and erected with man power and simple tools. The steal
lattice-work trusses could be connected to one another with pin connectin logs, which
could be attached sideways, downwards, or upwards. The trusses could also be doubled or tripled side-by-side or above one another to give the structure as much strength as was required. The highly adaptable bridge was installed under a number of different and challenging situations and was credited as one of the key pieces of equipment to contribute
to the liberation of Europe. During the war, the equivalent to 320 kilometres of fixed bridges
and 64 kilometres of floating bridges were installed. The Bailey Bridge has continued to be
used for military and peace-time ventures world wide, it is still unsurpassed for its ease of transport and quick construction and installation.
PONT BAILEY
Le pont Bailey a /t/ mis au point pendant la Seconde Guerre mondiale par l' ingénieur
Donald Bailey, qui travaillait au ministère britannique de la Guerre. Sa passion était les
modèles réduits de ponts et leur assemblage. Un eau jour, en 1960, il a fait part à ses
supérieurs d`une idée originale et il a été invité a pousser son raisonnement plus à fond.
Dès 1941, le concept s`était concrétisé et faisait l`objet d`une production à grande échelle en
vue de l`attaque des Alliés sur le continent européen. Le pont Bailey est constitué d`un
ensemble de pièces faciles à transporter par camion et dont l`assemblage ne nécessite, outre la main d`ouvre, que quelques outils élémentaires. Les montants en treillis métallique peuvent
être réunis à l`aide de tiges avec pattes de fixation en vue de l`ajout de panneaux sur les
côtés, au-dessus ou en dessous.Il est aussi possible d`en placer deux ou trois, côte à côte
ou un par dessus l`autre, pour assurer à la structure toute la résistance voulue. De tels ponts
ont été assemblés dans nombre de situations présentant des caractéristiques et des obstacles
qui leur étaient propres et on a dit d`eux qu'ils ont été une cheville ouvrière de la libération
de l`Europe. Pendant la guerre, 320 kilomètres de ponts fixes et 64 kilomètres de ponts flottants ont ainsi été assemblés. Les ponts Bailey ont par la suite continue de servir à des
fins militaires comme en temps de paix partout dans le monde. Ils sont toujours sans égal pour ce qui est de la facilité de transport ainsi que de la vitesse de construction et d`assemblage.
Canada Lands Company Limited
Société immobilière du Canada limitée
Bailey Bridge was dedicated by the Canada Lands Company as part of their redevelopment of Edmonton’s former Canadian Forces Base (Griesbach Barracks).
The Bailey Bridge was developed during the Second World War by engineer Donald Bailey, who worked in the British War Office. In 1940 Bailey presented a unique idea to his chiefs and was encouraged to explore it further. By 1941, it was put into large-scale production for the Allied attack on the European mainland. The highly adaptable bridge was installed under a number of different and challenging situations and was credited as one of the key pieces of equipment to contribute to the liberation of Europe.
The Royal Canadian Engineers started training on the Bailey Bridge in England in June 1942 and Royal Canadian Engineers field units started receiving their equipment in August 1943. The first Bailey bridge built by Canadians in operations was in Sicily that same month. As the war progressed, the Allies erected some 4,500 Bailey bridges.
Some 50 years after its introduction, the Bailey Bridge was withdrawn from use in the Canadian Forces, to be replaced by the Armoured Vehicle Launched Bridge, the Medium Girder Bridge and the Medium Floating Bridge.
(needs further research/recherche incomplète)
The original Maple Leaf Park, now known as Maple Grove Park, was dedicated to returning soldiers by the Canada Lands Company on August 15, 2007, as part of their redevelopment of Edmonton’s former Canadian Forces Base (Griesbach Barracks). The park is a strand of maple trees which pay tribute to the returning soldiers.
In 2017, the name Maple Leaf Park was moved to its current location at 2603 Sir Arthur Currie Way SW.
DEWOLD RD
[plaque]
THE VILLAGE AT
GRIESBACH
VICE ADMIRAL HARRY DEWOLF,
CBE, DSO, DSC, RCN
Harry DeWolf won a near legendary reputation for skill and daring as a Canadian destroyer
captain in the operations which preceded D-Day in 1944. his name is linked in naval history
with HMCS Haida, the Tribal class destroyer he commanded during a series of might actions in
the English Channel and the Bay of Biscay.
DeWolf was born in Nova Scotia in 1903 and graduated from the Royal Naval College of Canada,
Halifax, in 1921. Early in the Second World War he commanded the Canadian destroyer
St. Laurent and took part in the evacuation of the British Expeditionary Force from Dunkirk. Later,
while on anti-submarine patrol in the North Atlantic, his vessel rescued 859 survivors form the
torpedoed liner SS Aran Dora Star.
DeWolf was awarded a Distinguished Service Order (DSO) and a Distinguished Service Cross
(DSC) for his actions against German destroyers in 1944. He was also Mentioned in Dispatches
four times and he was decorated by the American French and Norwegian governments for his
wartime exploits.
In 1952, DeWolf became chairman of the Canadian Joint Staff in Washington and was promoted
to the rank of Vice Admiral. In 1956 he became Chief of Naval Staff of the Royal Canadian Navy.
At the time of his retirement in 1960 De wolf was Canada's most decorated naval officer.
VICE ADMIRAL HARRY DEWOLF,
CBE, DSO, DSC, MRC
Harry DeWolf se taille une réputation presque légendaire à cause de la compétence et de
l`audace dont il fait preuve au commandement d`un destroyer durant les opérations qui
précèdent le Jour J, en 1944. Dans l`histoire navale, son nom est lié au NCSM Haida, le
destroyer e classe Tribal qu`il commande durant une série de combats nocturnes dans la
manche et dans le golfe de Gascogne.
Né en Nouvelle-Écosse en 1903, DeWolf obtient son diplôme de Collège naval royal du Canada,
à Halifax, en 1921. Au début de la Deuxième Guerre mondiale, il commande le St-Laurent, un
destroyer canadien, qui participe à l`évacuation de la Force expéditionnaire britannique, à
Dunkerque. Plus tard, pendant une patrouille anti-sous-marine dans l`Atlantique Nord, son
navire repêche 859 survivants du SS Arandora Star, un navire de ligne torpillé
Harry DeWolf est décoré de l`Ordre du service distingué (DSO) et d`une Croix du service
distingué pour ses exploits contre des destroyers allemands en 1944. Il est également cité à
l`ordre du jour à quatre reprises, et est également décoré par les gouvernements américain,
français et norvégien pour ses exploits durant la guerre.
En 1952, DeWolf devient Chef d`état-major interarmées de l`Armée canadienne à Washington et
promu Vice-amiral En 1956, il est nommé Chef d`état-major de la Marine royale canadienne. A
son départ à la retraite en 1960, DeWolf est l`officier naval le plus décoré au Canada.
Canadian Naval Centennial 1910-2010
Centenaire de la marine Canadienne 1910-2010
Canada Lands Company Limited
Société immobilière du Canada limitée
DeWolf Road was dedicated to Vice Admiral Harry DeWolf by the Canada Lands Company on January 16, 2008, as part of their redevelopment of Edmonton’s former Canadian Forces Base (Griesbach Barracks).
Vice Admiral DeWolf won a near legendary reputation for skill and daring as a Canadian destroyer captain in the operations which preceded D-Day in 1944. His name is linked in naval history with HMCS Haida, the Tribal class destroyer he commanded during a series of night actions in the English Channel and the Bay of Biscay.
DeWolf was born in Nova Scotia in 1903 and graduated from the Royal Naval College of Canada, Halifax, in 1921. Early in the Second World War he commanded the Canadian destroyer St Laurent and took part in the evacuation of the British Expeditionary Force from Dunkirk. Later, while on anti-submarine patrol in the North Atlantic, his vessel rescued 859 survivors from the torpedoed liner SS Arandora Star. DeWolf was awarded a Distinguished Service Order and a Distinguished Service Cross for his actions against German destroyers in 1944. He was also Mentioned in Despatches four times and he was decorated by the American, French and Norwegian governments for his wartime exploits.
In 1952, DeWolf became chairman of the Canadian Joint Staff in Washington and was promoted to the rank of Vice Admiral. In 1956 he became Chief of Naval Staff of the Royal Canadian Navy. At the time of his retirement in 1960 DeWolf was Canada's most decorated naval officer.
The Vice Admiral Harry DeWolf plaque was unveiled on June 6, 2010.
CORVETTE ST
[plaque]
THE VILLAGE AT
GRIESBACH
ROYAL CANADIAN NAVY CORVETTES
Canada's navy in the Second World War was a small ship navy, with no battleships, and no
aircraft carriers. The diminutive corvette was the mainstay of the Royal Canadian Navy (RCN)
in the North Atlantic; escorting convoys and protecting them against submarines. The corvette's
design was based on a whaling ship and its simplicity meant it could be constructed quickly and
cheaply in small commercial shipyards. This is just what Canada needed to enlarge its Navy at
the beginning of the Second World War. By war's end, more than 120 corvettes were built in
Canada for the RCN and other Allied navies.
As Admiral Percy Nelles, the Chief of the Naval Staff, observed "corvettes were the stepping
stones of the fleet program, not the final objective". RCN corvettes were named after Canadian
communities in an effort to engage the Canadian people more directly in the war at sea.
corvettes were very small and lightly armed but also tough. Service on corvettes in the North
Atlantic was typically cold, wet, monotonous and uncomfortable. Interior decks were
constantly wet and condensation dripped form the deck heads.
The RCN lost 11 corvettes during the Second World War; torpedoed by U-boats, mined or sunk by enemy aircraft. RCN were credited with sinking numerous enemy submarines.
Canada's last corvette, HMCS Sackville, is berthed in Halifax Harbour and serves as the
National Naval Memorial.
LES CORVETTES DE LA MARINE
ROYALE CANADIENNE
Durant la Deuxième Guerre mondiale, la marine canadienne ne compte aucun cuirasse ou
porte avions, et ne dispose que de petits navires. Connus sous le nom de corvettes, ces petits
bateaux jouent un rôle important dans l`Atlantique Nord, car ils sont chargés d`escorter les
convois et de les protéger des sous marins ennemis. Inspiré des formes d`une baleinière, le
dessin très simple de la corvette a l`avantage de rendre sa construction plus rapide et moins
dispendieuse dans de petits chantiers navals commerciaux. Grâce à cette solution, le Canada
peut accroître sa marine au début de la Deuxième Guerre mondiale. À la fin de la guerre, plus
de 120 corvettes ont été construites au Canada pour la MRC et d`autres marines alliées.
L`amiral Percy Nelles, Chef d`état-major de la marine, déclare: <>Afin d' impliquer davantage les
citoyens dans la lutte livrée en mer, la MRC donne aux corvettes des noms de villes canadiennes. Petites et munies d' armes légères, les corvettes sont néanmoins robustes. Grâce à
leur portée considérable, elles assurent la protection des convois. À bord des corvettes dans
l`Atlantique Nord, les marins sont éprouvés par les violentes tempêtes, le froid et les conditions
difficiles à bord des navires. Les ponts intérieurs sont constamment humide et la cdondensation
coule du toit d`entrepont.
Durant la Deuxième Guerre mondiale, 11 corvettes de la MRC sont coulées, soit par des torpilles
de sous-marins, des mines ou des avions ennemis. On attribue aux corvettes de la MRC de
nombreuses victoires sur les sous-marins allemands.
La dernière corvette canadienne, le NCSM Sackville, est en rade dans le port de Halifax, et sert de Monument maritime du Canada.
Canadian Naval Centennial 1910-2010
Centenaire de la marine Canadienne 1910-2010
Canada Lands Company Limited
Société immobilière du Canada limitée
Corvette Street was dedicated to all the men and women who served on Royal Canadian Navy corvettes by the Canada Lands Company on August 25, 2010, as part of their redevelopment of Edmonton’s former Canadian Forces Base (Griesbach Barracks).
Canada's navy in the Second World War was a small ship navy without battleships or aircraft carriers. The corvette was the mainstay of the Royal Canadian Navy in the North Atlantic; escorting convoys and protecting them against submarines. Corvettes were built in Canada for the Royal Canadian Navy and other Allied navies. The Royal Canadian Navy corvettes were named after Canadian communities in an effort to engage the Canadian people more directly in the war at sea. They were very small and lightly armed, but also tough and with a long range that suited them to convoy protection.
Service on corvettes in the North Atlantic was typically cold, wet, monotonous, uncomfortable and interior decks were constantly wet and condensation dripped from the deckheads. Eleven Royal Canadian Navy corvettes were lost during the Second World War; torpedoed by U-boats, mined or sunk by enemy aircraft. Royal Canadian Navy corvettes were credited with sinking numerous enemy submarines. Canada’s last corvette, HMCS Sackville, is berthed in Halifax Harbour and serves as the National Naval Memorial.
The Royal Canadian Navy Corvettes plaque was unveiled on June 6, 2010.
[street sign/plaque de rue]
ADMIRAL WALTER
HOSE ST
[plaque]
THE VILLAGE AT
GRIESBACH
REAR ADMIRAL WALTER HOSE, CBE, RCN
No naval officer was more important to the early year of the Canadian Navy than Walter Hose
He joined the Royal Navy at the age of 14 Later in his naval career he transferred to the Royal
Canadian Navy (RCN). Prior to his transfer, Hose had sailed in every ocean on every class of
ship from torpedo boats to battleships, and as a young officer helped establish the
Newfoundland Division of the Royal Naval Reserve (RNR). He took command of HMCS
Rainbow, Canada's first ship ever to go to war at sea.
From command of the east coast patrol escorts during the RCN`s first campaign against the
German u-boats, to his tortuous years as head of the naval service, Hose was integral to the
development of the RCN. His vision resulted in the formation of the Royal Canadian Navy
Volunteer Reserve in 1923. Hose subsequently oversaw a naval policy that resulted in Canadian
built warships and a focus on the defence of Canadian territorial waters.
During this watch as Director of the Naval Service, then as Chief of Naval Staff, 1921-1934, Hose
fought many battles to ensure the survival of the fledgling RCN, in his words the Ugly Duckling
of Canadian National Defence. Rear Admiral Hose passed away in 1965 after having seen the
RCN grow to fulfill his vision.
CONTRE-AMIRAL WALTER HOSE, CBE, MRC
Durant les premières années de la marine canadienne Walter Hose a joué un rôle d`une
importance inégalée parmi les officiers navals. Enrôlé à 14 ans dans la Royal Navy, sa carrière
navale set ensuite transférée à la Marine royale canadienne (MRC). Avant ce transfert, Walter
Hose avait navigué sur tous les océans à bord de navires de toutes classes, des vedettes
lance-torpilles aux cuirasses. Il prend le commandement du NCSM Rainbow, le premier
bâtiment canadien qui livre combat en mer.
Depuis le commandement des navires qui patrouillent et escortent des convois sur la côte Est
durant la première campagne de la MRC contre les sous-marins allemands, jusqu`aux années
complexes à la tête de la Force navale, le Contre-amiral Hose est partie intégrante de
l`établissement de la MRC. C`est grâce à lui qu`en 1923, on crée la Réserve de volontaires de la
Marine royale du Canada, Par la suite, le Contre-amiral Hose préconise une politique navale de
construction de cuirassés, axée sur la défense des eaux territoriales canadiennes.
Pendant son service à tire de directeur de la Force navale, puis de Chef d`état-major de la
marine, de 1921 à 1934, le Contre-amiral Hose lutte à plusieurs reprises tout au long de la
Grande Crise, afin de veiller à la survie de la nouvelle MRC qui, selon lui, était le `vilain petit
canard` de la Défense nationale du Canada. Le contre=-amiral Hose prend sa retraite en 1933 et s`éteint en 1965, après avoir assisté à la croissance de la MRC, la réalisation de son rêve.
Canadian Naval Centennial 1910-2010
Centenaire de la marine Canadienne 1910-2010
Canada Lands Company Limited
Société immobilière du Canada limitée
Admiral Walter Hose Street was dedicated by the Canada Lands Company on August 25, 2010, as part of their redevelopment of Edmonton’s former Canadian Forces Base (Griesbach Barracks).
No naval officer was more important to the early years of the Canadian Navy than Rear-Admiral Walter Hose. He joined the Royal Navy at the age of 14, and later transferred to the Royal Canadian Navy. He took command of HMCS Rainbow, Canada’s first ship ever to go to war at sea. Rear-Admiral Hose was commandant of the east coast patrol escorts during the Royal Canadian Navy’s first campaign against the German U-boats. His vision resulted in the formation of the Royal Canadian Navy Volunteer Reserve in 1923, and in a naval policy that resulted in Canadian built warships and a focus on the defence of Canadian territorial waters. He later became Director of the Naval Service, and Chief of Naval Staff, 1921-1934. Rear-Admiral Hose fought many battles through the years of the Great Depression to ensure the survival of the fledgling Royal Canadian Navy. He retired in 1933 and passed away in 1965 after having seen the Royal Canadian Navy grow to fulfill his vision.
