Major Charles John Short and Staff-Sergeant George Wallick 1889 Fire Memorial
Municipality/Province: Québec, QC
Memorial number: 24051-077
Type: Bronze statue and granite shaft
Address: Originally on the corner of Grande-Allée and George V East
Location: Place George V
Submitted by: CCNQ; Musée naval de Québec; Rodolphe Fournier
This monument, erected by the Québec citizens and unveiled by the Mayor, J.J. Frémont, on 12 November 1891, is dedicated to Major Charles John Short and Staff-Sergeant George Wallick of B Battery, Royal Canadian Artillery. During the night of 15-16 May 1889, a great fire destroyed over 400 houses in the city. In an attempt to stop the spreading of fire, the Québec Garrison destroyed a few houses and put a time-fuse in a barrel of powder in a fifth house. Seeing that nothing was happening, Short and Wallick entered the house to check when they were hit by the explosion. It was a violent death. Touched by their bravery, the citizens of Québec decided to erect a memorial. The monument was taken apart and temporarily relocated behind the drill hall in the Spring of 2000 to prepare a flower garden. It should be returned to its original location in the Spring of 2001 (see photos).
Inscription found on memorial
[front, plaque/devant, plaque]
1889 - TO THE MEMORY OF MAJOR CHARLES JOHN SHORT, A.D.C. AND STAFF SERGEANT GEORGE WALLICK, B BATTERY REGIMENTCANADIAN ARTILLERY WHO LOST THEIR LIVES WHILST IN THE PERFORMANCE OF THEIR DUTY OF THE GREAT FIRE IN ST.SAUVEUR ON THURSDAY THE 16TH OF MAY 1889. THIS MONUMENT IS ERECTED BY THE CITIZENS OF QUEBEC, IN GRATEFUL REMEMBRANCE OF THEIR NOBLE AND HEROIC CONDUCT.
[shaft/socle]
1889 - À LA MÉMOIRE DU MAJOR CHARLES JOHN SHORT A.D.C. ET DU SERGENT D'ÉTAT-MAJOR GEORGE WALLICK DE LA BATTERIE B DU REGIMENT OF CANADIAN ARTILLERY DÉCÉDÉS DANS L'EXERCICE DE LEURS FONCTIONS LORS DU GRAVE INCENDIE DE ST-SAUVEUR LE JEUDI 16 MAI 1889. CE MONUMENT EST ÉRIGÉ PAR LES CITOYENS DE LA VILLE DE QUÉBEC EN RECONNAISSANCE DE LEUR VAILLANCE ET DE LEUR HÉROÏSME.
P. HÉBERT 1891
[shield/bouclier]
NATURA FORTIS INDUSTRIA CRESCIT
Note
This information is provided by contributors and Veterans Affairs Canada makes it available as a service to the public. Veterans Affairs Canada is not responsible for the accuracy, currency or reliability of the information.
- Date modified: