Ontario

The 126 foot high Middlesex Memorial Tower, a London landmark, was built in 1923. It was one of the first buildings to be constructed at Western University. The tower was erected in memory of the soldiers from Middlesex County who died in the First World War.

The history of a memorial at this site dates back to Easter Day, 1924, when the community of Manor and Highland Park erected a large oak cross in honor of those Canadians who died in "the war to end all wars." On May 31, 1925, more than 3,000 people assembled in the park to replace the cross with a marble statue of a First World War infantryman.

The 59-year-old marble statue was destroyed by vandals and the community rallied, raising about $20,000 in a few weeks, enough money to erect a bronze memorial to replace it. On November 2, 1985 a rededication for the memorial included a parade by active military and veterans' groups, an unveiling of the sculpture and a ceremony led by Rt. Reverend Derwyn Jones, bishop of the Anglican Diocese of Huron.

The bronze statue is a replica of an original memorial by Windsor sculptor Blaize Bezaire, recast from wax models. Two plaques have been added to the site in recollection of sacrifices made by soldiers in the Second World War and the Korean War.

(Note: Though a poppy does not appear on the street sign, this street is part of the City of London's "Streets of Honour" program and was named for Warrant Officer 2^nd Class Baxter)

Baxter Street is named in memory of Warrant Officer 2^nd Class Robert Leroy Baxter.

Robert Leroy Baxter was born on 1 May 1920 in London, ON. He attended Westminster School and Central Collegiate before joining the Royal Canadian Air Force. Upon completion of his training as a Wireless Operator – Air Gunner, he was assigned to No. 48 Squadron, RAF. During the Second World War, this squadron was mainly employed in a maritime role, conducting patrols or anti-shipping and anti-submarine missions. By December 1942, the squadron was patrolling the entrance to the Mediterranean flying Lockheed Hudsons from RAF Gibraltar. On 20 January 1944, Warrant Officer 2^nd Class Baxter took off with his crew to conduct an anti-submarine patrol west of the Straits of Gibraltar. Their aircraft crashed into the sea and were initially reported missing. The following day, the crew was declared killed in action. With no known grave, Warrant Officer 2^nd Class Robert Leroy Baxter is memorialized on the Malta War Memorial in Malta.

(Note: Though a poppy does not appear on the street sign, this street is part of the City of London's "Streets of Honour" program and was named for Flight Sergeant Chapman)

Chapman Court is named in memory of Flight Sergeant Kenneth Frank Chapman.

Kenneth Frank Chapman was born on 28 March 1926 in London, ON. He attended Wortley Road Public School and South Collegiate. When he reached the age of service, Chapman enlisted in the Royal Canadian Air Force, earning his air gunner’s wings on 21 April 1944. Soon afterwards, he was assigned to No. 153 Squadron, RAF, flying Lancaster bombers from Scampton, England. On 22 April 1945, No. 153 Squadron’s mission was to attack the north German port of Bremen. The squadron aircraft were returning to their airfield when Chapman’s bomber was hit by anti-aircraft fire. The aircraft broke apart in mid-air and the entire seven-man crew was killed. Flight Sergeant Chapman had just completed his 24^th mission and in a twist of fate, his squadron’s last operational sortie was a few days later on the 25^th of April.

Initially interred in the nearby cemetery at Altendeich, the crew was later exhumed and reburied in the Becklingen War Cemetery at Soltau Germany. Flight Sergeant Kenneth Frank Chapman was 19 years old.

(Note: Though a poppy does not appear on the street sign, this street is part of the City of London's "Streets of Honour" program and was named for Aircraftman 1st Class Bonder)

Bonder Road is named in memory of Aircraftman 1^st Class Hymie Bonder.

Hyman “Hymie” Bonder was born on 1 February 1920 in Russia. He emigrated to Canada with his family and became a Canadian citizen on 25 January 1932. His family established itself in London Ontario but unfortunately little is known of his youth. He joined the Royal Canadian Air Force during the Second World War and died while on service on 20 September 1943, likely while undergoing training in Canada. Aircraftman 1^st Class Hymie Bonder is buried in Or Shalom Cemetery, London, Ontario.

(Note: Though a poppy does not appear on the street sign, this street is part of the City of London's "Streets of Honour" program and was named for WO 1 Norfolk.)

Norfolk Place is named in memory of Warrant Officer 1 Kenney Weeks Norfolk.

Kenney Weeks Norfolk was born on 9 June 1917 in London ON. He attended South London Collegiate and joined the workforce after graduation. Joining the Royal Canadian Air Force, Kenney completed his aircrew training before being sent overseas. He was eventually transferred to RAF Station Reykjavik, Iceland where he piloted Ventura aircraft with No. 1407 Flight (re-named No. 251 Squadron in August 1944), RAF. Ventura aircraft were used primarily for meteorological reconnaissance and it is during a meteorological flight that Warrant Officer 1 Norfolk was killed on 22 April 1944, when his airplane crashed. He is buried at Reykjavik (Fossvogur) Cemetery.

(Note: Though a poppy does not appear on the street sign, this street is part of the City of London's "Streets of Honour" program and was named for Private Reid.)

Reid Court is named in memory of Private Douglas Robert William Reid.

Douglas Robert William Reid was born in London ON. Residing with is wife on Maitland Street, he enlisted and in March 1943 was assigned to the Royal Canadian Corps of Signals. After completing his training and once overseas, he was attached to the Lanark and Renfrew Scottish Regiment.

At the start of the Second World War, the Lanark and Renfrew Scottish Regiment was raised for homeland security duties. However, the Regiment agreed to share its name with the 1st Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment (1st LAAR), Royal Canadian Artillery, when the latter unit was re-rolled as an infantry battalion in 1944. In August-September 1944, the Canadian Corps was engaged in the breaking of the Gothic Line and the advance to Rimini. The 1st LAAR/Lanark and Renfrew Scottish Regiment (the official name changed occured in Oct 1944), in their new infantry role, was assigned to the 12th Brigade, 5th Armoured Division and immediately took part in operations.

On 3 Sept 1944, the 1st LAAR/Lanark and Renfrew Scottish Regiment advanced towards Mount Gallera as part of the push towards the Besanigo River. It is during this action that Private Douglas Robert William Reid was hit by shrapnel and killed. He is buried at the Gradara War Cemetery.

(Note: Though a poppy does not appear on the street sign, this street is part of the City of London's "Streets of Honour" program and was named for Flying Officer Smither.)

Smither Road is named in memory of Flying Officer Ross Smither.

Ross Smither was born on 12 November 1912 in London ON. Residing on Rathgar Street, he was educated at Chesley Avenue Public School and H.B. Beal Technical High School. Upon graduation , he joined the Royal Canadian Air Force on 10 September 1930 and undertook aircrew training. In December 1939, he was commissioned and proceeded overseas in June 1940 as a Hurricane fighter pilot with 1 Squadron, RCAF (re-numbered 401 Squadron in March 1941). By July 1940, the squadron was operating out of Croydon and was heavily engaged in the Battle of Britain. On 15 September 1940, Flying Officer Ross Smither was shot down in the Staplehurst- Tunbridge Wells area while defending the south of London from German bombers. He is buried at Brookwood Military Cemetery.

(Note: Though a poppy does not appear on the street sign, this street is part of the City of London's "Streets of Honour" program and was named for Private Sims. Note spelling error on street name.)

Simms Court is named in memory of Private Francis Gilbert Sims.

Francis Gilbert Sims was born in 1911 in London, ON. He resided on Piccadilly Street with his wife before joining the military soon after the start of the Second World War. Assigned to the Royal Canadian Army Service Corps, he trained as a despatch rider before embarking for overseas service. On 29 September 1940, while delivering official documents, Private Sims was killed in a motocycle accident at East Grinstead, about 50 km south of London. He is buried at the Brookwood Military Cemetery, England.

(Note: Though a poppy does not appear on the street signs, these streets are part of the City of London's "Streets of Honour" program and were named for Pilot Officer Morgan)

Morgan Avenue and Morgan Crescent are named in memory of Pilot Officer Franklin Benedict Morgan.

Franklin Benedict Morgan grew up on Princess Avenue in London ON and took flying lessons at the London Flying Club while studying at Sir Adam Beck Collegiate. He enlisted in the Royal Canadian Air Force in June 1940 and following initial training, went on to train at No. 5 Service Flying Training School in Brantford ON, graduating from Course 15 in March 1941. Documents indicate that he went on to fly bombing missions in Europe and was shot down on 20 October 1941 after an operation over Bremen, Gemany. In this instance, P/O Morgan was forced to make an emergency landing on the choppy North Sea and the entire crew managed to cram into a single dinghy. They spent 12 hours floating around until a fighter spotted them and circled until they could be rescued.

He was then transfered to No. 38 Squadron, RAF, operating out of Cairo, Egypt. On the night of 13 July 1942, after successfully completing a bombing mission over Tobruk, Libya, his bomber was attacked by enemy planes. His fuel tanks were hit, and coupled with adverse weather, the plane ran out of fuel just before reaching their base. The crew was ordered to bail out while Morgan attempted an emergency landing. The plane crashed and the injured Morgan was evacuated to a military hospital but later died of his wounds. Pilot Officer Franklin Benedict Morgan is buried at the Heliopolis War Cemetery, near Cairo.