World War I touched the lives of many Canadian families. Across southern Ontario, many communities recognized and commemorated the young men who gave their lives in the conflict. The small town of Morewood has a particularly fine memorial, set in a small park in the centre of town. It was erected by the “Village of Morewood and Vicinity”.
The monument was constructed in 1920 and dedicated on July 6, 1921. It was manufactured by J.P. Laurin, Ottawa, Manufacturers of Artistic Memorials and was paid for through public subscription. A Roll of Honor is headed “Dedicated to those who offered their lives in humanity’s defence in the Great War of the Nation”. It lists the names of 15 men, their battalion, when and where they died, and their age. The first name is that of Private Clifford E. Mackie, who was killed at Paschendale in October of 1916 at the age of 14. Fourteen? Fourteen! The battlefields named include Vimy Ridge and the Somme, Loos and Amiens. It wasn’t known where a few of the soldiers were lost; they are listed simple as “France”.
A Roll of Honor for World War II commemorates four young men from the Royal Canadian Air Force. One died in England, while three died over Germany.
The sculpture of a soldier was paid for by the Glasgow brothers in memory of Captain Ernest J. Glasgow, who died at Marais on May 9, 1918. He was 38 years old. The sculpture was completed by R. Tait MacKenzie.
Dr. McKenzie (1867-1938) was from Lanark, northwest of Ottawa. He was a medical graduate of McGill University and later became medical director of physical training at the University of Pennsylvania. In World War I, he was a lieutenant and major in the Royal Army Medical Corps. In addition to his work as a physician, he was also a talented sculptor. One of his best-known works is the Scottish-American War Memorial in Edinburgh, Scotland.
The Morewood monument also recognizes the Korean War, 1950-1953, with a small inscription. The base of the monument bears the inscription “Their Name Liveth For Evermore”.
Willow House Chronicles 
I really enjoyed this post. Many of these cenotaphes are works of art, and records of history. I think I found a website that collects pictures of them. If I find out I’ll let you know.
This one you post about is especially interesting when you think about how much such a small hamlet gave. That’s what makes this country great.
Thanks so much for sharing this.
Steve
Here is the link I found previously. I think you’ll find it most interesting,
http://www.cdli.ca/monuments/
Seems the site isn’t going to be updated as funding has run out. What a shame.
Thanks, Steve. I am always impressed by the number and quality of monuments that are to be found in small towns all around. I got some of my information about this one on the website you mention. Thanks for posting the link. Perhaps other readers will be able to find out more about their local monuments. It is a shame it’s not being updated.
This is a post I keep coming back to. I am the author of Remembered in Bronze and Stone (Heritage House 2016), a contemplation of Canadian war memorials featuring the figure of a soldier. I also have many war memorial-related photo sets on Flickr: https://www.flickr.com/photos/bigadore/collections
Your post is just about the only source I have found linking the Morewood monument to R. Tait McKenzie. As you are fully well aware, McKenzie was a remarkable ‘renaissance’ man. His best known war memorial sculptures are in Britain but he did another community cenotaph figure, at Almonte ON. I should have done this long ago but on the basis that late is better than never, let me thank you now for this fascinating post.
Late IS better than never! I am delighted to hear from you and appreciate your comments. It’s true that there is a remarkable heritage of war memorials, and it includes the work of some outstanding sculptors such as Loring and Wyle. I’ll look up your book! Thanks Alan. Sheri
Hello again. I have some questions about the Morewood figure I suspect you’d be able to help me with. Could you drop me a line at with an email address I could use to make contact? Thanks.