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”.
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