Ontario

The Belleville Arena was taken over by the Belleville council and was dedicated as a memorial to the military heroes who served in the Second World War.  It has since been dedicated as a heritage site by the council.

On June 3, 1946 the City of Belleville passed By-law No. 5163, which states:

“WHEREAS for the purpose of providing a memorial in commemoration of
the persons who served in the Armed Forces of His Majesty or His
Majesty’s allies during the recent war, the Council of the Corporation
of the City of Belleville deems it advisable and expedient to purchase
the Hume Arena and to maintain the same as a memorial as aforesaid.”

Vimy Court is dedicated to the Canadian Corps' victory at the Battle of Vimy Ridge.

Built in 1940 as one of many training establishments for the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan (BCATP), Camp Picton’s 700 acres became home for numerous young Commonwealth airmen undergoing bombing and gunnery training. After WWII, the site was used as a storage and equipment maintenance centre for the RCAF before being taken over by the Royal Canadian Artillery School (anti-aircraft). With the addition of a Permanent Married Quarters (PMQ) area in the 1950’s, the base was expanded and in the early 60’s became the Home Station for the Canadian Guards regiment. The Base was closed in 1969 and the airfield was eventually transformed into an industrial site. The PMQ area was sold to individual homeowners with many of the roads retaining their original military name.

The Battle of Vimy Ridge took place from April 9 to 12 in 1917 with the combatants being the Canadian Corps, of four divisions, against three division of the German Sixth Army.

The objective of the Canadian Corps was to take control of the German-held high ground along an escarpment at the northernmost end of the Arras Offensive. This would ensure that the southern flank could advance without suffering German enfilade fire. Supported by a creeping barrage, the Canadian Corps captured most of the ridge once the Canadian Corps overcame a salient of considerable German resistance. The final objective, a fortified knoll located outside the town of Givenchy-en-Gohelle, fell to the Canadian Corps on April 12. The German forces then retreated to the Oppy-Méricourt line.

Historians attribute the success of the Canadian Corps in capturing the ridge to a combination of technical and tactical innovation, meticulous planning, powerful artillery support and extensive training. The battle was the first occasion when all four division of the Canadian Expeditionary Force participated in a battle together and thus became a Canadian nationalistic symbol of achievement and sacrifice. A 100 ha (250 acres) portion of the former battleground serves as a preserved memorial park and site of the Canadian National Vimy Memorial.

Scheldt Court is dedicated to the Canadian First Army participation in the Battle of the Scheldt.

Built in 1940 as one of many training establishments for the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan (BCATP), Camp Picton’s 700 acres became home for numerous young Commonwealth airmen undergoing bombing and gunnery training. After the Second World War, the site was used as a storage and equipment maintenance centre for the Royal Canadian Air Force before being taken over by the Royal Canadian Artillery School (anti-aircraft). With the addition of a Permanent Married Quarters (PMQ) area in the 1950’s, the base was expanded and in the early 60’s became the Home Station for the Canadian Guards regiment. The Base was closed in 1969 and the airfield was eventually transformed into an industrial site. The PMQ area was sold to individual homeowners with many of the roads retaining their original military name.

Reichswald Court is dedicated to the Canadian participation in the Battle of The Reichswald.

Built in 1940 as one of many training establishments for the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan (BCATP), Camp Picton’s 700 acres became home for numerous young Commonwealth airmen undergoing bombing and gunnery training. After the Second World War, the site was used as a storage and equipment maintenance centre for the Royal Canadian Air Force before being taken over by the Royal Canadian Artillery School (anti-aircraft). With the addition of a Permanent Married Quarters (PMQ) area in the 1950’s, the base was expanded and in the early 60’s became the Home Station for the Canadian Guards regiment. The Base was closed in 1969 and the airfield was eventually transformed into an industrial site. The PMQ area was sold to individual homeowners with many of the roads retaining their original military name.

The Battle of the Reichswald, also known as Operation Veritable, took place in Klever Reichswald between February 8 and March 11, 1945. This operation was the northern part of an Allied pincer movement conducted by 21^st Army Group primarily consisting of the 1^st Canadian Army and the British XXX Corps. The operation’s objective was to clear German forces from the area between the Rhine and Maas rivers, east of the German/Dutch frontier. The operation had complications. The heavily forested terrain, squeezed between the rivers, reduced Anglo-Canadian advantages in manpower and armour and the situation was exacerbated by soft ground which had thawed after the winter and the deliberate flooding of the adjacent Rhine flood plain as well as the delay in the southern pincer movement, Operation Grenade.

Veritable started on schedule, with XXX Corps advancing through the forest and the 3^rd Canadian Infantry Division, in amphibious vehicles, clearing enemy positions in the drowned Rhine flood plain. The fighting was hard, but the Allied advance continued. On February 22, once clear of the Reichswald and with the towns of Kleve and Goch in their control, the offensive was renewed and linked up with the US 9^th Army (Operation Grenade) near Geldern on March 4. Fighting continued as the Germans sought to retain a bridgehead on the west bank of the Rhine at Wesel and evacuate as many men and as much equipment as possible. Finally, on March 10, the German withdrawal ended and the last bridges were destroyed.

Ortona Circle is dedicated to the Canadian participation in the Battle of Ortona.

Built in 1940 as one of many training establishments for the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan (BCATP), Camp Picton’s 700 acres became home for numerous young Commonwealth airmen undergoing bombing and gunnery training. After the Second World War, the site was used as a storage and equipment maintenance centre for the Royal Canadian Air Force before being taken over by the Royal Canadian Artillery School (anti-aircraft). With the addition of a Permanent Married Quarters (PMQ) area in the 1950’s, the base was expanded and in the early 60’s became the Home Station for the Canadian Guards regiment. The Base was closed in 1969 and the airfield was eventually transformed into an industrial site. The PMQ area was sold to individual homeowners with many of the roads retaining their original military name.

The Battle of Ortona (20-28 December 1943) was an extremely fierce battle fought between German Fallschirmjäger (paratroops) from the German 1^st Parachute Division and assaulting Canadian forces from the Canadian 1^st Infantry Division. It was the culmination of the fighting on the Adriatic front in Italy during “Bloody December”. The battle, dubbed “Little Stalingrad” for the deadliness of its close-quarters combat, took place in the small Adriatic Sea town of Ortona, about halfway down the Italian coast. The initial Canadian attack on the town was made on December 20 by Canadian 2^nd Brigade’s Loyal Edmonton Regiment with elements of the Seaforth Highlanders of Canada under command. Meanwhile elements of the division’s 3^rd Brigade launched a northerly attack to the west of the town in attempt to outflank and cut off the town’s rear communications but made slow progress because of the difficult terrain and the skillful and determined German defence. The Germans also concealed various machine guns and anti-tank emplacements throughout the town, making movement by armour and infantry increasingly difficult. The house to house fighting was vicious and the Canadians made use of a new tactic: “mouse-holing”. On December 26, Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry and the Three Rivers Regiment joined the battle. After eight days of fierce fighting, the depleted German troops withdrew from the town.

Cassino Court is dedicated to the Canadian participation in the Battle of Monte Cassino.

Built in 1940 as one of many training establishments for the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan (BCATP), Camp Picton’s 700 acres became home for numerous young Commonwealth airmen undergoing bombing and gunnery training. After the Second World War, the site was used as a storage and equipment maintenance centre for the Royal Canadian Air Force before being taken over by the Royal Canadian Artillery School (anti-aircraft). With the addition of a Permanent Married Quarters (PMQ) area in the 1950’s, the base was expanded and in the early 60’s became the Home Station for the Canadian Guards regiment. The Base was closed in 1969 and the airfield was eventually transformed into an industrial site. The PMQ area was sold to individual homeowners with many of the roads retaining their original military name.

The Battle of Monte Cassino was a costly series of four assaults by the Allies against the Winter Line in Italy held by Axis forces during the Italian Campaign of the Second World War. The intention was a breakthrough to Rome. At the beginning of 1944, the western half of the Winter Line was being anchored by Germans holding the Rapido, Liri, and Garigliano valleys and some of the surrounding peaks and ridges. Together, these features formed the Gustav Line. Monte Cassino and its abbey, dominated the nearby town of Cassino and the entrances to the Liri and Rapido valleys, but had been left unoccupied by the German defenders. The Germans had, however, manned some positions set into the steep slopes.

Fearing that the abbey did form part of the Germans’ defensive line, the Allies sanctioned its bombing on February 15. The destruction and rubble left by the bombing raid now provided better protection from aerial and artillery attacks, so, two days later, German paratroopers took up positions in the abbey’s ruins. Between January 17 and May 18, Monte Cassino and the Gustav defences were assaulted four times by Allied troops. The final battle, involving 1 Canadian Corps and 1^st Canadian Armoured Brigade, began on May 11, 1944, and by May 13, the German right wing began to give way. Vicious fighting continued for another five days and on May 18, a patrol of Polish cavalry finally made it to the heights. The German defenders had been driven from their positions, but at a high cost. 

Caen Court is dedicated to the Canadian participation in the Battle for Caen.

Built in 1940 as one of many training establishments for the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan (BCATP), Camp Picton’s 700 acres became home for numerous young Commonwealth airmen undergoing bombing and gunnery training. After the Second World War, the site was used as a storage and equipment maintenance centre for the Royal Canadian Air Force before being taken over by the Royal Canadian Artillery School (anti-aircraft). With the addition of a Permanent Married Quarters (PMQ) area in the 1950’s, the base was expanded and in the early 60’s became the Home Station for the Canadian Guards regiment. The Base was closed in 1969 and the airfield was eventually transformed into an industrial site. The PMQ area was sold to individual homeowners with many of the roads retaining their original military name.

This memorial is dedicated to all sailors of the Royal Canadian Navy and the Canadian Merchant Marine. It was unveiled on September 21, 2001, by the Royal Canadian Legion Branch 78.

This memorial is dedicated to the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan 31 Bombing & Gunnery School at Camp Picton. It was unveiled by the Royal Canadian Legion Branch 78.

The Picton Canadian Army Memoriali s dedicated to the men and women who have served and are now serving in the Canadian Army. It was unveiled on September 21, 2001, by the Royal Canadian Legion Branch 78.