Submitted by Gerry Tilmans,
First VP, Public Relations Officer
For those of you new to Bruce County or just visiting, you will no doubt have driven through Wiarton and stopped to look at the amazing mural that the Wiarton Legion commissioned and dedicated to veterans a couple of years ago. It took a lot of effort and planning to complete this. A number of small towns also have such a building with murals depicting those who served.
Unfortunately, Lion’s Head and Tobermory don’t have similar structures that we could put up something to celebrate our local veterans. Is there anyone else interested in finding a way to project our appreciation to them? What do you think?
We are planning an open house for this fall. Details are slim, but the September 9 article will outline the details. Remember that Legion membership is open to all Canadians, and this is a chance to come meet us and learn why you should become a member.
As summer is a rather quiet time in terms of Legion happenings, I thought I’d write about one of the names on the Lion’s Head Cenotaph: W.J.S. Laidlaw. Here is what I found as an after-action field report at www.findagrave.com.
John Scott Laidlaw was born in Eastnor Township on September 17 1893 and was killed in action in France on November 27 1917. He is buried at Fouguieres-les-Lens Communal Cemetery in Nord-Pas-de-Calais France. The gravesite, according to the website, “has been well-maintained by its French caretakers for over one hundred years, for which the family is grateful.”
“A patrol of one officer and 20 O.R’s went out from post 17 with the object of finding the position of the enemy. They travelled due east until they came to the Lens Arras Road, where a party including a Lewis machine gun and crew was left in support. Lieut. W.J.S. Laidlaw and a few of the party went across the road and turned to the left, going past the first house. When about the centre of the next house enemy bombs were thrown from the windows and the officer was either killed or wounded.”
Legion 202 is located at 6 Hellyer Road, Lion’s Head just north of Ferndale on Highway 6. Reach us at branch202pro@gmail.com Stop in Thursdays in August at 1 o’clock to play Cornhole for $3, exceptions are the first Thursday of the month.
