Between the two world wars, 1918 to 1939, what is now referred to as World War One, was The Great War. The number of Canadian deaths due to the Great War is estimated between 56,639 and 66,655 and possibly higher. Almost every community in Canada, no matter how small, suffered losses in that war and during the time between wars many communities built and placed memorials commemorating their fallen. After World War Two, many of the memorials placed to remember the losses from World War One were added to or replaced to include losses for the second world war and then Korea, United Nations Peacekeeping, and now, Afghanistan. Chesterville has kept their Great War cenotaph unchanged and exclusive to its original intent. It is the fourth such memorial I have photographed that is solely dedicated to World War One losses.
ERECTED TO OUR HEROES KILLED IN THE GREAT WAR.
Sgt. Harold Adam Merkley, 54th Batt., C.E.F. (Canadian Expeditionary Force), killed at Vimy, July 19, 1919, age 22 yrs.
Pte. W. B. C. Moodie, 49th Batt., C.E.F., killed at Vimy, Apr. 9, 1917, age 33 yrs.
Pte. Ransom Howard Hess, Princess Patricia Light Infantry, C.E.F., killed at Battle of Parvillers, Aug. 13, 1918, age 17 yrs.
Pte. Henry Coughler, 28th Batt., C.E.F. died of wounds in hospital, France, Nov. 1, 1918, age 33 yrs.
