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14 He was the son of Iacob Jennings and Mary Ann Vague and the husband of Fem Saunders Pearson. They had been married only a short time. A child was born while Fred was over seas Fred was popular in Stouffville as was evident by the many expressions of regret. Many friends. neighbours and relatives were touched by Vimy Ridge. During the delayed reopening of Melville church on War- den Avenue Sept. 2. 1924, a special pan of the service was the unveiling of a tablet to the memory of Harry W. Cook. one of the Melville boys who was killed at Vimy Ridge. 'lhe fam- ily of Mr. and Mrs John (lowperthwaite had lost one their six boys. killed at “my. Dr. Jessie Brodie. formerly of University of lbronto. lost his oldest brother. Alex H. Brodie. who died of wounds received at Vimy Ridge. YOUNG “HER KILLED Private Fred lennings of Stouffi/ille paid the supreme sacrifice in defense of the Allied cause. A letter announcing his sad fate on April 9. 1917 in the fight at Vimy Ridge. came from the Chaplin of his battalion. In northern France. most of the battles and bloodiest engagements were fought. Ypres. Vtmy and Bapaume were obliterated. ln scores of cases. not a single bn‘ck was left whole. As part of a British offensive around Arms in April 1917. the Canadian corps was to seize heavily fortified Vtmy Ridge in France. The Canadians carefully planned and rehearsed their attack At 5:30 am. April 9. all four Cana- dian divisions advanced together for the first time. They would capture the long ridge. The cost to Canada was high. 3.598 killed and more than 7.000 wounded. Their deter- mination earned them a reputation as formi- dable, effective troops. Wilmot Kester is a well-known name in the history of Stoufl'ville. centered in the east end. He had a commendable military career. At the young age of 17. he enlisted with the Canadian Mounted Rifles at Prince Rupert. Sask. and went with the Canadian forces to South Africa at the time of the Boer War. BY FRED ROBBINS During the First World War. villages, towns and cities along the old (tench line in France wet; complgtely disappeared. Destruction within range of the guns. which remained in almost the same position for three years, was absolute. “Ibis is the 100th anniversary of that war. Later he served in the Imperial Amly in England and at one time was also a member REMEMBRANCE DAY 2014 Town paid heavy price at Vimy He was the recipient of a federal pension for injuries received overseas He died at age 41 and was buried in the town cemetery. where he was accorded military honours by the Stoufiville WarVeterans MEMORIAL PARK MONUMENT \fimy Ridge~is the final resting place of so many. A large monument. 40 feet high over the field below, is impressive and yet daunting to all who visit the site. The memorial stands on Hill 145, the primary objective for the (lana- dian forces in 1917. of the Canadian volunteer militia. In 1915 he enlisted at Tbmnto in the Blst infantry bat- talion and served in France from the time his unit landed there until the endof the war. He was in some of the important engagements in which Canadian forces participated. amongst them the battle of Somme. the Ypres Salient and Vimy Ridge. , The Legion. in 1959. was hoping to embark on another campaign. the erection of a war memorial in the park. Such a caim should have been built here many years ago. Harry Burgess built the calm and fellow veteran Walter Smith aseisted with the wrought iron railing around the base. 'lhis cenotaph was built on a base that once held guns that were loaned to the Board of 'lhtde in 1930 in mm for the people of Canada. 'l‘hose very guns were captured April 9 at Vimy Ridge. The great monument is inscribed with the names of 11.285 Canadian soldiers who were listed as "missing, presumed dead" in France. It stands as a tribute to all who served their country in battle and risked or gave their lives in the war and paid such a price to help ensure the peace and freedom we enjoy today. ‘ In 195]. Bert Lickorish. representing the Stoufl’ville Veterans. waited on council and discussed the suggestion of a Memorial (laim. on which would be engraved the names of the First and Second Veterans. which were origi- nally planned for the new Memorial Park gates to be erected in the spring of 1951. The special place of gatheriné was for a long time in the history of Slouffville the cenâ€" tre of many Remembrance Day gatherings. 'lhe opportunity to enhance a central piece of our history is gone. lts base was removed this fall. A replacement may come. yet the damage is done and the hurt still is there. Hopefully the new memorial will bring to light the cost of those fallen lives given; the supreme sacrifice â€" We WILL remember '1‘! MN. PM! Robbins is a Stoufliu'lle himm‘an