The Volunteer War Memorial
Municipality/Province: Almonte, ON
Memorial number: 35040-001
Type: Statue and wall (bronze and granite)
Address: 14 Bridge Street
Location: Next to the Almonte Old Town Hall, on the corner of Little Bridge Street & Bridge Street
GPS coordinates: Lat: 45.2257079 Long: -76.1940569
Submitted by: Terry MacDonald; Joseph Leblanc; Colonel Andre D. Gauthier (CF Ret'd/ret. des FC); MBdr./bdrc Paul Charlebois; Mark Ward
The title of this memorial is "THE VOLUNTEER". It was sculpted by R. Tait McKenzie and dedicated September 11, 1923, and was constructed in memory of the men of Almonte who fell for freedom in the First and Second World Wars and the Korean War. The memorial was requested by Alexander Rosamond in a letter he wrote to his family in July 1916. He was a lieutenant in the Princess Patricia Canadian Light Infantry who had taken over leadership of the Rosamond Woollen Company from Bennett Rosamond. He noted that, if he did not return, he hoped a memorial could be built in a central place in Almonte, "to the men of Almonte who fell for freedom."
Lt. Alex Rosamond was killed in action at Courcelette during the battle of the Somme on September 15, 1916. His widow made sure his wishes were carried out and asked Dr. Robert Tait McKenzie, a local boy, to create the memorial. Although Dr. McKenzie was a full professor at the University of Pennsylvania, he returned to his native town of Almonte, after an absence of nearly forty years to construct this monument. Most of the work was done in the garage at Pinehurst on Union Street, the home of Mrs. Alex Rosamond. This formerly was the carriage house of the Bennett Rosamond estate. Mrs. Rosamond wanted the memorial to have a likeness to her late husband, based on photographs. The finished work looked so much like her late husband that she had it changed. Mrs. Rosamond also left $1000.00 for its upkeep. The memorial was redone in 1967.
It is said that "The Volunteer" recalls the spirit of adventure of Dr. McKenzie's own early days in Almonte. This poem called "The Volunteer" was written by Ethel McKenzie, Dr. McKenzie's wife.
He watches - in a little northern town,
Through winter cold and parching summer heat,
Where quiet folk go simply up and down,
O'er stony bridge and narrow crooked street.
He guards - alone - alert, with clenched hand,
In readiness with his young manhood's might,
To spring to action at a word's command,
Uphold his honour and defend his right.
He watches - while the children leave their play.
To lay their garlands clustered at his feet,
Zinnias and asters from home gardens gay,
In little hands held close and warm and sweet.
He smiles - he leans - and every winsome maid
Feels in her heart this joyous chivalry,
And lads look starry - eyed and unafraid
To grow to manhood strong and brave as he.
He watches. Oh, ye men with him who fell!
Mighty of valour, bold, unflinching free!
Here, in this place, your spirits seem to dwell,
Drawn to the home of your mortality.
He waits! Nor shall his vigil be in vain,
Men like to him shall ever pay the price;
Shun all dishonour, scorn the thought of pain,
And make the great immortal sacrifice!
Source: Gerry Wheatley, Almonte Gazette, November 12, 1986.
Add or Update Memorial Information
Inscription found on memorial
[Front, centre/Devant, au centre]
THE
VOLUNTEER
ERECTED TO CARRY OUT A BEQUEST
MADE BY THE LATE
ALEXANDER GEORGE ROSAMOND P.P.C.L.I.
KILLED AT COURCELETTE
SEPTEMBER 15, 1916
[First World War/Première Guerre mondiale]
TO THE MEN OF ALMONTE WHO FELL FOR FREEDOM
1914 - 1918
FRANK ABRAM
EDWIN K. AITKEN
E. AMOURETTE
WM. ALFRED BERRY
LOUIS C. BOLTON
FRANK S. BROWN
ROBERT H. COCHRAN
THOMAS R. COLLIER
J.P. CORKERY
JOHN L. CLEARY
ROY DICKENSON
WILLIAM DYSON
WILLIAM EVOY
GEORGE FAIRBAIRN
WILLIAM FAIRBAIRN
SAMUEL FISHER
W. FORSYTHE
FARQUHAR C. FRASER
ARCHIBALD GREIG
FREDERICK HAYNES
JOHN HOLLAND
EDWARD HOUSTON
EDWARD HOUSTON
A.H. ILLINGWORTH
JAMES JOSS
J.T. KIRKLAND
THOMAS KNIGHT
ARCHIBALD KEAN
THOMAS W. LEE
JOHN L. McDOUGALL
GEORGE E. McGREGOR
JAMES P. McGUIRE
HARRY McINTOSH
ALLAN McPHAIL
ARTHUR E.G. STRATFORD
PETER J. MOORE
ROBERT NAISMITH
LESLIE OWRID
C. PARKER
F.J. PARKIN
ARTHUR C. PAUL
E.A.P. PLUNKETT
ALEX G. ROSAMOND
JAMES SINCLAIR
SAMUEL SYKES
ROBERT WEEKS
ARTHUR WHITE
ROY WILSON
JAMES WRIGHT
ARCHIBALD WYLIE
[Second World War, Korea, Peacekeeping/ Deuxième Guerre mondiale, la Guerre de la Corée, Maintien de la paix]
1939 - 1945
WALLACE BLAKELY
DONALD BADOUR
WILMER CAMELON
DON CAMERON
FRANK CAVERS
BERT DUNCAN
F. DALGITY
FRANK FISHER
ALEX. GOODALL
RAYMOND HOUSTON
WM. HEFFERMAN
GEORGE JACKMAN
RUSSELL JAMES
CARL LEE
JOSEPH LALONDE
J.F. LAVIGNE
EDGAR LEE
JAMES McINTOSH
KENNETH MILLER
JAMES PYE
LLOYD REID
HAROLD K. SCHULTZ
NORMAN SMITH
RAYMOND STANLEY
WM. STANLEY
J. MAC STEWART
V. STEWART
HAROLD STOKES
KOREA 1950 - 1953
PEACEKEEPING
Street view
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