British Columbia

The Saanich War Memorial Health Centre, also known as St. Andrew Saanich Memorial Manor, was named in November 1920. It was built by public subscription as a memorial to those who lost their lives in the Great War in service to their country. The architects who designed the building were Karl Branwhite Spurgin and R.G. Rice, and it was built by Williams Trerise & Williams.

Erected by ex service women's Legion Branch #182 and unveiled on September 21st, 2008, this memorial is dedicated to the women Veterans of the Second World War, and to the Nursing Sisters also serving during the Second World War. (see also memorial 59005-047)

This memorial is dedicated to Lieutenant Commander John Hamilton Stubbs DSO DSC RCN, Commanding Officer of Her Majesty's Canadian Ship (HMCS) Athabaskan, who lost his life during a naval battle in April 1944. The following is an excerpt from CFB Esquimalt Naval & Military Museum:

Local Heroes - Lieutenant-Commander John Stubbs by Michael Whitby (historian, Directorate of History and Heritage) - After a year of shore duty, he was appointed Commanding Officer of HMCS Athabaskan, a Tribal class vessel with a reputation as an unhappy ship. Stubbs is remembered as the quiet, laid-back man with a strong sense of humour who quickly restored morale, and ran an efficient yet relaxed ship. ATHABASKAN was assigned to Plymouth Command to conduct offensive sweeps off the French coast. Stubbs's skills proved well-suited to the fast-paced night surface actions and he was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross for his role in a battle in which ATHABASKAN and her sister-ship HMCS HAIDA played crucial roles in sinking the German destroyer T-29 on April 26th, 1944. Three nights later, ATHABASKAN and HAIDA, under Commander Harry DeWolf, were on patrol in mid-Channel when they were ordered to intercept two German destroyers (survivors of the earlier battle) heading westward along the French coast. Athabaskan's radar soon detected the enemy ships; minutes later, the Tribal's opened fire, then altered course towards the enemy to 'comb' possible torpedoes (that is, turn parallel to incoming torpedoes). In spite of this manoeuvre, a torpedo found Athabaskan. The hit caused such devastation that Stubbs ordered the crew to stand by in readiness to abandon ship. In the early hours of the morning, her decks crowded with men, Athabaskan's 4-inch magazine erupted in a massive blast. Most of those on the port side were killed, and many others were burned by searing oil that rained down on the upper deck. Survivors took to the cold waters of the English Channel as their ship began to sink beneath them. Stubbs is said to have sung to his men while they waited in the freezing water, stanzas from a tune about naval volunteers called "The Wavy Navy". They were in the water for 30 minutes before HAIDA, having finished off one of the German destroyers, returned to rescue survivors. Although it was near dawn and the enemy coast was only five miles away, HAIDA lay stopped for 18 minutes. According to some witnesses, Stubbs shouted a warning to DeWolf to the effect "get away HAIDA, get clear". DeWolf did not hear Stubbs, but knew he lingered long enough; after dropping all boats and floats, HAIDA headed back to Plymouth with 42 survivors. Six more of Athabaskan's company made it safely to England in HAIDA's cutter, while another 85 were picked up by German warships. John Stubbs, badly burned and last seen clinging to a life-raft, was among the 128 who perished. He was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross (DSC) after his death. The quiet heroism and dedication to duty demonstrated by John Stubbs have become a rightful part of the rich traditions of the Royal Canadian Navy.

This memorial is a building named in honour of Rear-Admiral Wallace Boucher Creery. The following is an article from: The Maple Leaf - November 18, 2009 

Dockyard building named after naval veteran - Tim Creery (right in photo) and Capt(N) (Ret) Raymond Creery unveil the building plate honouring their father, RAdm Wallace B. Creery, at CFB Esquimalt, as Commander Canadian Fleet Pacific Cmdre Ron Lloyd looks on. The 108-year-old building, which houses Canadian Fleet Pacific HQ, was named after the distinguished Canadian Navy veteran in a late October ceremony. Radm Creery lived in the Admiral's residence in Dockyard from 1950 to 1953 when he was the top naval officer on the Pacific coast. He had a long and distinguished naval career, serving in both the First and Second World Wars, and as the Commanding Officer of HMCS Champlain, HMCS Fraser and HMCS Prince Robert.

Erected by the Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada, this memorial is dedicated to the Canadian Women's Army Corps, unveiled on February 20, 2000.

The “Spirit of Construction Engineering” monument is located in front of the Hood building, in the Dockyard at CFB Esquimalt. It serves as memory to 100 years of Canadian Military Engineering service to Canada. The memorial was constructed by a team of sheet metal workers, painters, carpenters, plumbers, electricians, gardeners and municipal workers from the Construction Engineering Section. The monument was unveiled by the Lieutenant Governor of BC, The Honourable Iona Campagnolo, on 31 March 2003.

Hood Building, the Base Construction Engineering building at CFB Esquimalt, is named in honour of Colonel, The Honourable Francis G. Hood, Royal Engineers. Then Lieutenant Hood was the Commanding Officer of the 48th Submarine Mining Company, RE from 1902 to 1906. The Company’s headquarters and buildings were located on the present-day site of the Base Construction Engineering building.

Excerpts from the brochure of the Veterans Memorial Park, Prince Edward Branch #91, The Royal Canadian Legion, Langford, BC:L

Prince Edward Branch of the West Shore Communities of Victoria, in conjunction with, the Langford Municipality organized and implemented the development of the Veterans Memorial Park. It is approximately 2.5 acres, which includes a picnic area, water feature, playground, benches for relaxing, and an area for shooting hoops. The park opened 19 September 2001 at a cost of approximately $450,000.00 with our Branch providing the new War Memorial. Maple Leafs are placed in the ground at Veterans Park and are available to the public who wish to have them custom engraved. Engraved Plaques placed on park benches are also available. Our Candelight tribute that we hold every year in conjunction with the anniversary of Vimy Ridge on April 9th, is a commemorative ceremony to inspire and engage young Canadians to learn about Canadian military history in the cause of peace and freedom. Youth and a Veteran or serving member of the Armed Forces will place candles together, during the ceremony, in a symbolic passing of the torch of remembrance. Their legacy, our heritage, and our future! During the dedication ceremony on October 14th 2001, candles were placed on the Memorial by youth representing local Cadets, Guides and Scouts. The parade, approximately 450 strong, consisted of Legion Members, Military, other Veterans groups from around Victoria, RCMP, and Fire Department. Every year on November 11th members of the West Shore Communities gather at Veterans Park to remember all those who gave so much for our freedom.

Excerpts from the brochure of the Veterans Memorial Park, Prince Edward Branch #91, The Royal Canadian Legion, Langford, BC:

Prince Edward Branch of the West Shore Communities of Victoria, in conjunction with, the Langford Municipality organized and implemented the development of the Veterans Memorial Park. It is approximately 2.5 acres, which includes a picnic area, water feature, playground, benches for relaxing, and an area for shooting hoops. The park opened 19 September 2001 at a cost of approximately $450,000.00 with our Branch providing the new War Memorial. The Canadian Merchant Navy Veterans' Association dedicated this Bandstand to all Canadian Women Mariners who served their country in Wartime. Our Candelight tribute that we hold every year in conjunction with the anniversary of Vimy Ridge on April 9th, is a commemorative ceremony to inspire and engage young Canadians to learn about Canadian military history in the cause of peace and freedom. Youth and a Veteran or serving member of the Armed Forces will place candles together, during the ceremony, in a symbolic passing of the torch of remembrance. Their legacy, our heritage, and our future! During the dedication ceremony on October 14th 2001, candles were placed on the Memorial by youth representing local Cadets, Guides and Scouts. The parade, approximately 450 strong, consisted of Legion Members, Military, other Veterans groups from around Victoria, RCMP, and Fire Department. Every year on November 11th members of the West Shore Communities gather at Veterans Park to remember all those who gave so much for our freedom.

Excerpts from the brochure of the Veterans Memorial Park, Prince Edward Branch #91, The Royal Canadian Legion, Langford, BC:

Prince Edward Branch of the West Shore Communities of Victoria, in conjunction with, the Langford Municipality organized and implemented the development of the Veterans Memorial Park. It is approximately 2.5 acres, which includes a picnic area, water feature, playground, benches for relaxing, and an area for shooting hoops. The park opened 19 September 2001 at a cost of approximately $450,000.00 with our Branch providing the new War Memorial. The design of the War Memorial incorporates the two pillars of the "Mourning Mother" which was inspired by the Canadian National Vimy Memorial in France. The "Mourning Mother" represents Canada, as a young nation, grieving for her fallen children. The two pillars represent the defenders of Peace and Freedom. The War Memorial was designed and sculpted by our local artist Mr. Derek A. Rowe, of Renaissance Studio. The cost of the Memorial was approximately $80,000.00 which was raised in the West Shore Communities. A highlight of the Memorial is a 90 lb. 26" x 20" Vimy Stone that was presented to our Branch as a sign of comradeship from the Canadian Peacekeeping Veterans Association. This actual piece of the Vimy Memorial in France, is the first piece of Vimy to be used in a War Memorial in Canada. Our Candelight tribute that we hold every year in conjunction with the anniversary of Vimy Ridge on April 9th, is a commemorative ceremony to inspire and engage young Canadians to learn about Canadian military history in the cause of peace and freedom. Youth and a Veteran or serving member of the Armed Forces will place candles together, during the ceremony, in a symbolic passing of the torch of remembrance. Their legacy, our heritage, and our future! During the dedication ceremony on October 14th 2001, candles were placed on the Memorial by youth representing local Cadets, Guides and Scouts. The parade, approximately 450 strong, consisted of Legion Members, Military, other Veterans groups from around Victoria, RCMP, and Fire Department. Every year on November 11th members of the West Shore Communities gather at Veterans Park to remember all those who gave so much for our freedom.