Other

Richmond, like countless other communities across Canada, was shaken by the experience of the First World War. In the years following the armistice, Veterans joined together to form the Great War Veterans Association and in February 1921, they decided to erect a memorial to their fallen comrades. A committee was elected and other organizations were contacted: the Imperial Order Daughters of the Empire, Ratepayers' Association, Red Cross and the Richmond Council. The Memorial Committee applied to the Richmond Municipal Council for a site in front of the relatively new Town Hall and this was granted in November 1921.

Reverend A. MacKay, the chairman of the Memorial Committee, appeared before Council on February 20, 1922, to state that the memorial would cost $1,612. This included the column with appropriate lettering, cement base and granite boulders. The Council granted the committee the sum of $300.00, and the remaining $1,312 was financed by public subscription and general fund-raising. A Celtic Cross was purchased from the Independent Monument Company, designed by Sharp and Thompson Architects, Vancouver, British Columbia. The cement base was finished by March 15, 1922, the column erected and four granite boulders were lettered for key battles of the Great War. The base of the monument is granite and it sits upon a concrete platform, two steps above grade.

Easter Sunday, April 9, 1922, was chosen for the dedication ceremony, being very close to the anniversary of the battle of Vimy Ridge. At the dedication ceremony, the unveiling of the cenotaph was undertaken by Mary and Gordon Hayne, children of James Arthur Hayne, a fisherman from Steveston, who was killed in action in France, May 1917. Initially, there were 22 names inscribed on the memorial and four more were added at a later date. At the end of the Second World War, more names were inscribed on the cenotaph’s north and south faces, 32 listed immediately following the war and four more were added in 1949. The memorial was refurbished in 1998.

On July 15, 1999, the cenotaph was temporarily moved from city hall to its creator’s shop - William Chandler of W.R. Memorials of Vancouver. It was returned to the site in 2000 when the new city hall was completed. On May 30, 2024, two names were added to the front of the cenotaph.

The City of Richmond Archives published an illustrated book with information on the cenotaph and biographies of most of the men listed on the cenotaph. Included are seven additional names not yet on the monument.

Memorial Park was originally the property of William Henry Ladner. In 1919, Harry Nelson Rich, a prominent village businessman who lost his only son Sidney in the First World War, obtained the acreage to develop it as a memorial administered by the Delta Memorial Park Association. The cenotaph was unveiled at a large community gathering on May 22, 1921. Twenty-seven names of those from Delta who died in the First World War were etched in the granite. Later, names of those who died in the Second World War were added and the Korean War, Afghanistan and NATO were recognized.

The volunteer association operated the park and maintained the cenotaph until 1956, when the property and assets were turned over to the Corporation of Delta. The cenotaph was refurbished and landscaped in 1987 by the Legion and other volunteers.

The Legion mural on the south wall of the 100 Mile Community Hall, on the corner of Birch Avenue and Third Street, was funded by the local 100 Mile Legion. It was painted by Dwayne Davis and Neil Pinkett in 2011. Royal Canadian Legion Branch #260 commemorates and pays homage to our past and serving veterans who serve so bravely on land, air and sea. Depicted are two of 100 Mile veterans Ernie Sampson (Ret. Navy) and Gordon Thorsteinson (Ret. Air Force).

Colonel Johnston Lake is named in memory of Lieutenant-Colonel Sydney Douglas Johnston, MC and bar.

Sydney Douglas Johnston was born in April 1896 in Vancouver. Upon the outbreak of World War I, he enlisted in the 72^nd Battalion (Seaforth Highlanders) but was reassigned to the 16^th Battalion (Canadian Scottish) and served under LCol Cyrus Wesley Peck, VC. The 16^th Battalion sailed for the UK in early October 1914 and trained on Salisbury Plain until it embarked for France in mid February 1915. The Battalion took part in all major engagements of the Canadian Corps including Ypres, The Somme, Vimy and Passchendaele. Earning a commission in the field, it is during one of these battles that Johnston was seriously wounded in 1916 and awarded the Military Cross and later a bar to the Military Cross. Upon his return to Canada, then Major Johnston moved to Prince Rupert and established an insurance and real estate business. In 1932 as a Lieutenant-Colonel, he took command of the 102^nd Battalion which became a Heavy Anti-Aircraft artillery unit, and under LCol Johnston’s command, had the task of defending the vital port of Prince Rupert during WW II. He remained in Prince Rupert after the war, retiring in 1957. Lieutenant- Colonel Sydney D. Johnston died in November 1966 in Vancouver.

Colonel Johnston Creek is named in memory of Lieutenant-Colonel Sydney Douglas Johnston, MC and bar.

Sydney Douglas Johnston was born in April 1896 in Vancouver. Upon the outbreak of the First World War, he enlisted in the 72^nd Battalion (Seaforth Highlanders) but was reassigned to the 16^th Battalion (Canadian Scottish) and served under LCol Cyrus Wesley Peck, VC. The 16^th Battalion sailed for the UK in early October 1914 and trained on Salisbury Plain until it embarked for France in mid February 1915. The Battalion took part in all major engagements of the Canadian Corps including Ypres, The Somme, Vimy and Passchendaele. Earning a commission in the field, it is during one of these battles that Johnston was seriously wounded in 1916 and awarded the Military Cross and later a bar to the Military Cross. Upon his return to Canada, then Major Johnston moved to Prince Rupert and established an insurance and real estate business. In 1932 as a Lieutenant-Colonel, he took command of the 102^nd Battalion which became a Heavy Anti-Aircraft artillery unit, and under LCol Johnston’s command, had the task of defending the vital port of Prince Rupert during WW II. He remained in Prince Rupert after the war, retiring in 1957. Lieutenant- Colonel Sydney D. Johnston died in November 1966 in Vancouver.

Mount Colonel Foster is named in honour of Major-General (then Lieutenant-Colonel) William W. Foster, CMG, DSO with two bars, MC, Croix de Guerre (France), Croix de Guerre (Belgium).

William Washborough (sometimes spelled Wasbrough) Foster was born in England in 1875 and moved to Canada in 1892, to work for the Canadian Pacific Railroad in Revelstoke, BC. The ensuing years saw him hold various civic positions in Revelstoke including Justice of the Peace and Police Magistrate. In 1910, he became Deputy Minister for Public Works for the Province of BC and was elected to the BC Legislature in 1913. Upon the outbreak of the First World War, Foster enlisted in the 2^nd Canadian Mounted Rifles and sailed for England in June 1915, arriving in France in September of the same year. This Regiment was part of the 3^rd Canadian Division and fought throughout France and Flanders, notably in the Battles of Mont Sorrel, Flers-Courcellete, Thiepval, Vimy Ridge and Scarpe. In August 1917, Foster was appointed Commanding Officer of the 52^nd Battalion CEF, a position he held until the unit was demobilized in 1918. Upon his return to Canada, he became president of an engineering firm as well as being president of various organizations including the Legion, and the Alpine Club of Canada. He returned to service during WW II as Chairman of the Canadian Officers’ Selection Board and later was promoted to the rank of Major-General in charge of the Northwestern area of Canada. After the war, he became head of the BC Hydro-Electric Power Commission and initiated many great engineering projects. He was also a notable mountaineer, having made the first ascent of Mount Robson in 1913 and Mount Logan in 1925. William Washborough Foster died in Vancouver on 02 December 1954 at the age of seventy-nine.

Peck Lake is named in honour of Lieutenant-Colonel Cyrus Wesley Peck, VC, DSO and bar.

Cyrus Wesley Peck was born in April 1871 in Hopewell Hill, NB. In 1887, he moved to New Westminster, BC with his family. At a young age, he attempted to join the British Army and volunteered for the Boer War however his eagerness for the military went unfulfilled. He eventually found himself in Northern Canada and later in Prince Rupert when WW I broke out. He enlisted as a captain in November 1914 and went overseas with the 30^th Battalion, CEF. In April 1915, he was promoted to major and transferred shortly afterwards to the 16^th Battalion, Canadian Scottish Regiment. In January 1916, he was appointed Commanding Officer of the 16^th Battalion. During his service overseas, LCol Peck was awarded the DSO and bar, was Mentioned in Dispatches five times and wounded twice. But he is best remembered for his actions of 2 September 1918 at Cagnicourt, France (Drocourt- Queant Line) where his leadership and courage under fire, led to the success of the brigade attack and the awarding of the Victoria Cross (see citation below). Having been elected Member of Parliament for Skeena in 1917, as a soldier candidate, Peck embarked on his federal political career upon the cessation of WW I. He was later elected to the BC legislature in 1924 and 1928. Following his political career, he was appointed to the Canadian Pension Commission. Cyrus Wesley Peck died in September 1956 and his ashes were scattered off the coast of Prince Rupert.

 “For most conspicuous bravery and skilful leading when in attack under intense fire.

His command quickly captured the first objective, but progress to the further objective was held up by enemy machine-gun fire on his right flank.

The situation being critical in the extreme, Colonel Peck pushed forward and made a personal reconnaissance under heavy machine-gun and sniping fire, across a stretch of ground which was heavily swept by fire.

Having reconnoitred the position he returned, reorganised his battalion, and, acting upon the knowledge personally gained, pushed them forward and arranged to protect his flanks. He then went out under the most intense artillery and machine-gun fire, intercepted the Tanks, gave them the necessary directions, pointing out where they were to make for, and thus pave the way for a Canadian Infantry battalion to push forward. To this battalion he subsequently gave requisite support.

His magnificent display of courage and fine qualities of leadership enabled the advance to be continued, although always under heavy artillery and machine-gun fire, and contributed largely to the success of the brigade attack.”

(London Gazette, no.31012, 15 November 1918)

Mount Scherle, is named for Private William P. Scherle who was killed in a helicopter accident on 7 July 1970 while on a surveying mission. The 2,743-metre peak overlooking the accident site was named Mount Scherle on 30 December 1970.

There are several Canadian geographical names that honour the ‘sapper.’

Lake Lye in the Chilcotin Training Area (near Williams Lake, BC) is named for Brigadier General William Kirby Lye. BGen Lye is an RMC graduate who went overseas during the Second World War with 16th Field Company and was later Second-in-Command of 1st Field Company. In England he was also Chief Instructor of the Engineer Reinforcement Unit. He was Mentioned in Despatches and appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire for his distinguished service in 1944 as Staff Officer Royal Engineers, Headquarters 2 Canadian Corps. BGen Lye’s post-war appointments include: Deputy Commander, Canadian Forces Base Units, Middle East (United Nations Emergency Force); Commander, Camp Chilliwack and Commandant, Royal Canadian School of Military Engineering; Commander Canadian Base Units (Europe); Commander, Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island Area; Chief of Staff, Administration, at Headquarters Mobile Command; Senior Assistant Adjutant General and Director General Ordnance Systems and Director General Land Operations in Canadian Forces Headquarters. BGen Lye retired in 1973 after his assignment as Commandant Royal Military College, Kingston.