Daily Blog

Double checking some facts requires additional time. Thus the blog will not appear till Sunday.

2/23/2020

There is an old saying that if you don't make mistakes... you don't make anything!

In my past life as a columnist and advocate I learned that hiding and running from errors, a norm in the newspaper business... is not good for the writer...or the reader. And thus, despite ridicule by many of my fellow journalists, when my feet were held to the fire, I had to double and triple check my work and where needed, correct it in the same public forum that I made the mistake in.

My last blog appears to have some double checking needed according to a most accomplished reader regarding the subject at hand.

Thus, this work has eaten up most of my day today and still needs more attention.

The blog is therefore being put off till Sunday next.

Thanks for hopefully understanding,
Bart

Confused heap of Facts: Part ll

2/16/2020

I left off last week reminding you that, while much of the John Otto Siegel story had been told in the past in this space, an update was needed. That aside, the blog left off showing an image of the version of the Medal of Honor known as the Tiffany Medal.

I had believed that this was the version of the medal Siegel was first awarded. But upon reflection and review of files I see that he was probably in possession of at least 3 medals, each being at a different time and all for the same event.

Here is the medal I showed in error, as being the version first awarded...

And the front would have looked like this...

But information coming to my attention days ago show that I was wrong. While he would get that version later, it was not his first.

The above Tiffany version was not authorized until February 1919. His first medal, was sent out by officialdom to get engraved on 21 Jan., 1919. Obviously before the Tiffany version was authorized and even actually created.

His first meal should have been the then current navy Medal of Honor, created in 1913, and looking like this...

It was probably this version of the medal that Siegel lost during the dreadful fire in the labourers' camp whist employed in the building of the Hoover Dam, noted in past blogs.

When the Tiffany Medal was designed it was decided that it would be for the navy and marines and would have 2 different suspension ribbons. One would reflect action in the face of the enemy and one would be for non combatant heroism.

The non combatant medal is the one on the right. Note that it has two inverted stars at the bottom of the ribbon. The medal on the left has one star at the bottom, and all stars are not upside down. This version was supposed to be for combat related heroism.

Yet like so much involving the Siegel case, this is the ribbon that he apparently received. The reverse of this medal appears at top of this blog.

It is a little hard to read, but is inscribed... John Otto Siegel, Boatswain's Mate 2nd Class, at Norfolk Virginia, November 1, 1918.

On a side note, some 36 years earlier Nova Scotia's Joseph Noil also received a Medal of Honor for saving a shipmate from drowning at the same naval yard. Remembrance also is due this very month for this coloured sailor and hero as well as Robert Sweeney MOH, thought to be from Canada, but later disproved, Joachim Peace another coloured sailor and MOH recipient from Nfld, and William Hall from Nova Scotia, a Victoria Cross recipient, and also a sailor.

This of course being Black history Month!

As noted in past blogs, John Otto Siegel lived for a very short time in Winnipeg. He and parents then moved to Wisconsin and numerous other places during his terms in and out of the the US Navy. His later days was spent in the area of Gary Indiana as shown below.

When John Otto Siegel passed away in August 1943, even his obit left many questions unanswered. His obit mentioned a wife, but no children, either from that union or the first one. Even his name had been curiously altered by dropping the 2nd given name's initial from "O" and adding an "R" instead.

Even formal government files contain curious entries.

Whilst reflecting a Wisconsin birth, he was in fact born in Germany, put up for adoption, taken in by the Siegel family and then relocated either to the US or Canada pre 1901. This is evidenced with residence in Winnipeg in or before 1901, and soon moving to the US.

Note also the several spellings of his name shown above.

For the next 77 years his place of exact burial was concealed by the fact that he was buried under the assumed initial R instead of O.

It was thanks to the investigative talents of one of our fellow members in the United States Medal of Honor Historical Society that the riddle has come to a rest.

John Otto Siegel's files at the Gary Indiana cemetery will be corrected and a marker, where there in none at present, will be erected with not only his correct name but the honour he holds as being a recipient of the most prestigious Medal of Honor.

As this story develops I will bring you more news.

In the mean time Winnipeg is still very much on my radar and many fascinating facts about that city and its military background will be further explored next Sunday. And at that time I shall reveal some military connections that VERY FEW are doubtfully aware of. Including its historians!

You will be surprised.

Hope you will again join me then,
Bart

"History is Only a Confused Heap of Facts"

2/9/2020

So said the Earl of Chesterfield back in the 1700's, though I personally did not hear it!

After a month's hiatus, much reflection and getting many updates, I return with more on John Otto Siegel. I introduced you to him on August 11, 21 and 28 back in 2016. I encourage you to go back to these by following the links at the right of this page. Therein you can read of the curious and confusing heap of facts that Siegel has left us to decypher.

Very soon after birth in Germany, he was adopted by Julius and wife Annie Siegel. Soon the three, and perhaps others arrived either in the US or Canada, (yet to be verified.) By 1901 the three were living in Winnipeg Manitoba, but soon Julius had relocated to the US and was shortly joined there by Annie and John.

The Canadian national census for 1901 lists 8 year old John with Julius 57 and Annie aged 46. The above image has been cropped for viewing purposes with the three listed above, and ages and place of birth below.

The city directory of 1901 lists the Siegels living at 208 Jarvis Street in the West end of the city. Most curiously the directory also lists another Siegel... Benjamin.. living right next door.

At the time the population of Winnipeg was about 43,000. And in the directory, it lists only 2 Siegel's. Surely they must have been related but this requires further investigation. Neither is listed in Winnipeg the following year.

Here is what Google maps shows sitting on the very corner or within yards of where the 2 Siegel families lived. It is believed that both once stood where the several story building now stands. This being at the corners of Jarvis and Main.

This also being quite close to a very historic part of the city, but more... actually much more on that, in the blogs to come!

By the age of 17 John was living in Milwaukee Wisconsin and signed up with the US navy. His less than stellar record in the service would see him serve on at least 6 different vessels. He'd go AWOL at least twice, one being gone over 2 years and resulting in an arrest poster resulting in his capture, a court-martial and held on ship for about 1/2 year.

He'd also taken on a wife in 1912 and soon had a child, only later to abandon both without benefit of a divorce. Released from the navy dishonourably, John took up various jobs including driving a wagon for the famed Wells Fargo company. By then he had also taken on a new wife, and child soon to follow, despite already having one of each of these.

By 1917 John somehow got back into the US Navy.

Assigned to the navy's tug boat... Mohawk... (shown above) John was onboard and working out of the Norfolk, Virginia naval yard on November 1, 1918. Soon he and other crew members were dispatched on an emergency mission. They had to save the crew on the Norwegian schooner Hjeltenaes which was engulfed in flames and tied up alongside a harbour bridge.

John raced on board and hauled a crewman out of his quarters and got him to safety. He then went back a 2nd time and saved another crewman. He then returned yet a 3rd time and tried to do the same, but a burst pipe blocked an exit door. Unable to escape, he became overcome with smoke and collapsed on the deck. His own shipmates had to then save the rescuer.

He was later recommended, successfully, for the Medal of Honor.

Regular readers of these blogs are quite familiar with the 1916-17 story of the famous purge of over 900 Medals of Honor. Part of the outcome of that fiascle was the creation of a new medal for the Navy and Marines. While still clearly a Medal of Honor, is was called the Tiffany version of the medal as it was made by the NY firm named after their founding father. It would be this version of the medal that John Otto Siegel would receive.

It is inscribed.... Awarded to John Otto Siegel, Boatswain's Mate 2nd Class, at Norfolk Virginia, November 1, 1918. The handwritten markings identify when it was acquired by the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles.

I will pick up on this and much more regarding Winnipeg next Sunday and hope you will join me then,

cheers,
Bart

blog reumes on Sunday 9 Feb.

2/3/2020

Several updates have come my way over past month. Yesterday's story was in the works but then more details came in that need my evaluation before they are shared with you.

Thus the blog has to be held back till Sunday next.

Please join me then,
Bart

Belated Conclusion to Blogs Covering the road and Interpretive Signs along Memorial Avenue.

12/29/2019

Over the last year and more, I have brought you news, as it developed, regarding the Shelbourne Street Memorial Avenue project.

Several years in the making, the project picked up where others left off, dating back a century. The greater Victoria major roadway had been selected by the authorities of the day as a place of remembrance. One that honoured the several hundred service members who lost their lives in the Great War, now known as WW1. Plans calling for well over 600 trees fell aside when less numbers were planted. Some of those later died and others had to be removed through disease, roadway expansion etc.

The recent plans called for the correct numbers to be replanted, and signage along the street. This would not only identify it as being a Memorial Avenue, but also signage would bring details of the price the community paid back during the war.

Two blogs ago I mentioned that now there are about 30 street signs mounted along both sides of the road. About 3/4's of these being in the Municipality of Saanich with the rest in the city of Victoria. That blog showed a map of the area and five locations where the Interpretive Signs have also now been installed. Perhaps more at the south end, in the city of Victoria, will appear at a later day.

That blog also gave you a picture of the first Interpretive Sign installed. It is near the north end of Shelbourne Street, where it intersects with San Juan. Today I bring you images of the remaining 4. These are not in the order they were erected, but simply in the order that they appear heading south from San Juan and Shelbourne.

So we start today's tour with the 2nd sign, which is located on the west side of Shelbourne, just north of Cedarglen.

These may make the reading a little easier.

Traveling a few blocks further south, you will find the third sign, also on the west side on Shelbourne, and just north of Blair. Here is that sign...

and enlarged...

I should note that while my photography leaves much to be desired, that of the Saanich Archives, BC Archives, Ottawa and those of Alan Livingstone MacLeod are far superior to mine.

Note above the partial credits, being cut off... for Alan, an acquaintance of mine and great supporter of the work of this blog site. Alan is one of the leaders and strong supporters of the Pacific Branch of the Western Front Association and when he gives talks, I assure you the audience is most attentive.

His grasp on Canadian military history bulges forth in the 200 plus page book... Remembered in Bronze and Stone. This important historical work brings forth the stories and images of some 130 monuments, from coast to coast in Canada, honouring some of those who lost their lives in the Great War. More recently he continues to preserve our Canadian history with his book ... From Rinks to Regiments, Hockey Hall of Famers, and the Great War.

Both books should be on your shelves at home!

Returning back to Shelbourne Street, we travel further south to the north/east corner of Mortimer to find the 4th Interpretive Sign. Here it is...

This is the reverse of the sign and repeat of that found at the North end of Shelbourne location of the 1st sign.

And here is the front of this sign....

And close ups...

and....

and another...

and yet another...

The final location of an Interpretive Sign is on the west side of Shelbourne, just north of Church street. Rather than just one sign, there are two. Here we see both, and the first being enlarged...

and further enlarged...

and more...

and another...

and finally...

Here is the last Interpretive Sign, also at the Church Street location....

Here are some enlarged images of this sign as well...

and another...

and still another...

and almost the last one ...

and the last one...

A drive along the north end of Shelbourne is worth it for all greater Victoria residents, and those who visit us.

The trees still in place are quite majestic to look at and will soon be joined by others properly spaced along Shelbourne. In the summer the trees will be in full bloom. They will stretch across the street giving you a canopy to stroll under. Each representing one brother reaching out to another brother...or sister... in arms.

You will be able to reflect on those who have gone before us, and you may be lucky and catch a stream of light shining through. Don't be alarmed. It is our forefathers and mothers greeting us and thanking us for remembering them.

Let's not forget!

As noted in the last blog, I will be away from this site for the month of January and look forward to meeting you again in early February.

Thanks all for hanging out with me for the last 500 blogs,

Bart

Change in plans! 500

12/22/2019

A few days back I started to bring you some news about the latest Interpretive Signs along Shelbourne Avenue, AKA Memorial Avenue here in Victoria.

The blog was getting long and so I decided to bring you the rest of that story today. After publishing the blog I realized that I already had plans for today's story, so the Memorial Avenue blog will be finished next Sunday.

Christmas is in a few days and I want to share the following poem with you. It has been circulating for some time and is a powerful reminder of our obligation to remember and give thoughts to our military families of today and those of the past. Those who have, and continue to pay an enormous price to serve us each and every day. As will those who step up to take the torch in all our tomorrow's.

And while we think of those far away on occasions like Christmas, we also need to think of the families, friends and neighbours. All yearning to have their friends or loved ones back in their arms once again.

Freedom is not free, and never will be! Nor will it often be earned at the end of a pen. More often it will sadly be at the end of a gun. Sadly for the man or woman at BOTH ends.

Lest We Forget....

Please re-read that last line again and take action. There is doubtfully a single person you know who has not been blessed with results that have come from those in our military of today and yesterday. It is the least we can do to remind them of this.

Moving on, some have noticed the number at the end of today's blog. A number increasing in each of my last five blogs.

That number today shows a very exciting milestone in this blog's history. The first appeared in this space in mid December 2012. It now starts it's 8th year, with the milestone of 500 blogs now reached.

But my interest if the Medal of Honor, and the Canadians serving with US forces and being awarded this highest of medals by the President goes back a lot further than 8 years. It can be traced back to the days of a freelance writer in the mid to late 1980's.

It was while listening to a CBC radio show, that I was stunned to hear the guest telling the listening audience that there were about 50,000 Canadians who fought in the US Civil War. The guest then added that 54 of these men were awarded the US Medal of Honor.

Thinking the numbers were very high I spent some time at the library and came up with similar numbers. I planned on doing something with the material. But like most things in life, plans change. The information over the years and many a move, got buried further and further down in the boxes of possessions.

In early 2001 I started part time and often longer... looking into the Canadian role played in the US Civil War. More particularly the Medals of Honor and the Canadians who were so awarded.

Initial plans were to write a book about Canada's role in the heritage of US military heroism. A role almost completely unknown above the US/Canada border. (And in fact also little known in the US.) A role that includes a Canadian connection to the very first medal awarded by date of action in US history.

Years or research passed by and in the process many folks tried to convince me that I should do a blog about the subject. Years of rejecting the idea finally gave way to the first ever blog in this space in December of 2012.

Today's blog now starts my 8th year in this space.

While exact numbers have not been carefully documented, it seems that figures mentioned in past have it that I have traveled some 40,000 Kms and more and spent over $20,000 over the years in expenses and traveling across Canada and the US on Medal of Honor matters.

I have been paid a small honorarium twice on speaking engagements, had accommodations provided for the night twice in individuals homes, 2 nights in a BB and I night in a hotel room. Several meals have been provided to me over the years. All other expenses have been out of pocket.

I have personally met and shaken the hand of at least 45 Medal of Honor recipients, sat in the homes of a few deceased recipients or their descendants, met with an Ambassador to Canada, met with a formed Chief of Defense, communicated with a Minister of National Defense and other MP's, and MLA's in several Canadian provinces. I have also met with, or corresponded with several US and Canadian Generals and Admirals, and senior bureaucrats at both Canadian and US embassies and consulate general or consul offices on both sides of the US /Canada border.

This work has also seen me in contact with numerous archives, museums, heritage, historic and genealogical groups, libraries and more in many parts of North America.

I have been blessed, privileged and most honoured to be invited to the funeral of a MOH recipient, and also attended two others funerals of recipients. An invitation to attend the christening of the most recent coast guard ship named in honor of Canadian born Douglas Munro was a real honor. There I met many most senior dignitaries from the US Coast Guard and federal members of government. I was even permitted an opportunity to address the Commanding Officer and most of the serving members on the vessel.

Many ceremonies at MOH graves have relied on some input form my research. One family even wrote and thanked me, (though others were equally responsible) for giving back to the family , a history lost for almost 130 years. A second Canadian recipient's story also resulted in the unveiling of a new marker after he was buried under the WRONG name for over 130 years. The research bringing this about was partly based on my research.

All of this and so much more has been possible because of the fabulous assistance offered me by way of research an more importantly the mental support for this work over the years. Two groups in particular are due great kudos. They are the Medal of Honor Historical Society of the US, of which I remain the sole Canadian member, for over a decade, and for about the same length of time the impressive board and researchers, all volunteers themselves, at the Victoria Genealogical Society who have over the past been such a great help in my efforts to preserve Canada's heritage.

All this being said, it is finally time when I revisit what I have been doing for almost 2 decades and put this all in a book.

While I have promised to bring you the end to the update on Memorial Avenue, this will be done next week.

Current plans are that I will probably not be back at this space for the entire month of January. A month I need to spend deciding on the next part of this journey. This will involve a book, or perhaps more than one on this subject, and creation locally of at least two monuments that have long been overdue in BC.

So with that, I will sign off and hope to see you next Sun day. And as always, I welcome, though receive far too little comment, from most of my readers.

As noted above, please pass this blog along, have a great Xmas and say a prayer for those off in many parts of the world, and also right here at home doing their bit to protect us.

cheers,
Bart

Another Update of Canada's First Memorial Avenue 499

12/19/2019

Over the last year and more I have brought you the latest news about the first ever road of remembrance in all of Canada. One that would serve for generations to remind those traveling along its route that some 600 or more citizens from the greater Victoria BC area lost their lives during the Great War.

Proposed back in 1918, it officially opened in 1921. Plans of that time called for the planting of over 600 Londonplane trees along the entire route. Hundreds got planted but never the numbers originally called for. Some of those planted died off, and others had to be removed for street widening etc.

This map shows the area in greater Victoria where the Memorial Avenue, as it was to be called, is located. It is in the eastern part of Victoria towards the bottom 1/4 of the map and the Gordon Head area of Saanich in the upper 3/4's. The avenue runs from Mount Doug Park southbound to Bay street in the south, as shown by the red line above.

Rather than becoming known as Memorial Avenue, over the years it has adopted the name Shelbourne Avenue.

Either this tree, or one of many within a few hundred feet of this one, located at San Juan Avenue and Shelbourne, is possibly the first of all those planted almost 100 years ago. Many of the trees had little wire fences around them protecting the plaques within, containing the names of the deceased service members. (Note other Londonplane trees along the eastern side of the street as well)

The above plaque evidences that France's Field Marshall Joffre was in the city on other business in 1922 and actually planted a tree in this area. It is unknown if the above tree was the one he planted.

A blog search on this site should bring up some information about PEI born nurse Beatrice MacDonald, and in that you will read of General Joffre and that nurse, who has been recognized as the nurse in WW 1 who was awarded more medals than any other of the war... from any country.

In the 1960's some school students located the Joffre plaque laying in the grass and took it to their school. They in turn presented it to the Saanich Archives where it is safely secured. It is often dusted off and put on temporary display.

This is a second image of the above... possibly first tree on the Avenue. The lower image was taken around Remembrance Day last year. Above this is a plaque mounted on a small monument located in front of this tree. It evidences three famous generals and the dates each came to Victoria and whilst here, planted one of these trees. Note the line up of similar trees behind it, and again across the street.

A few weeks back I mentioned in a blog that on Remembrance Day last month I drove by this memorial en-route to a military service and noted 2 young girls appearing to place something on the marker. On return, I took this picture showing that they had placed two poppies giving thanks to those who served and lost their lives in WWl.

I believe that when original plans for the creation of Memorial Avenue were on the table for discussion about a century ago, some thought went into creating some sort of marker at both ends of the avenue indicated the significance of the road. Such was certainly on the table over recent years when a new group formed to rectify what they were calling... the Street of Unfinished Dreams.

Something similar to this image has been put on the table and further developments in this regard await fruition.

Gate posts would obviously be without the gate itself.

After much discussion over the past year and more, this is the design that had been adopted for the road signs, some 30 or more being planned for placement along both sides of the avenue in the area shown in the above map.

I am told the Londonplane leaf is actually yellow in color, but red was adopted to represent the massive loss of blood on the battlefields of the Great War. The Maple Leaf image was also chosen for obvious reasons. With permission from the Royal Canadian Legion, two poppies also are incorporated into the design.

The lower image shows what the signs along the route would look like. And in fact they do. There are many already mounted and I see them almost daily as I travel this road. Many of my friends have shared very positive comments as well when seeing them displayed, and being reminded daily of the importance of our military back then... and to this day.

Last year, on September 29th a most impressive ceremony was conducted at San Juan Avenue and Shelbourne, near the north end of the Memorial Avenue. Past blogs have brought you that story. Above is the back of the first interpretive sign to be unveiled along the route. The center line in red, lays out the route with some of the road emblems shown but not necessarily where they would ultimately be located. The actual length of the road, both on top and bottom can be slightly adjusted to show its true length.

So far there have been 5 locations where interpretive signs have been mounted. Presumably more are to come.

Shown above is the reverse of the first sign unveiled. It may be difficult to read so I have tried to take close up images of the various parts of this and 4 other interpretive signs so that those from far away can see what local residents can see on visiting the area.

I should note that the gathering of images and the trying to piece them together has been a challenge as has also been the case with the weather of late. I should also add that a great friend and follower of these blogs assisted with the gathering, several times, of these images, and so a big shout out to someone I shall just call RC. They know who they are.

I have created a map to show you exactly where each of the five sites of Interpretive panels are located. Here it is... in 2 pages...

Going from top to bottom, the first arrow points to the
above panels located at the N/E corner of San Juan and Shelbourne. The second interpretative sign is along the western side of Shelbourne and just north of Cedarglen Road. The third, on the same side of the street, is just north of Blair Avenue. The fourth is at the North East corner Mortimer and Shelbourne. The fifth is on west side of Shelbourne and within the very small park called Gore Peace Memorial Park and located to the north of Church Street.

I shall return on Sunday to tell you about the remaining four signs.

Hope to see you then.

Bart

The Rains Have Caused Slight Delay in Planned Blog.

12/18/2019

Several of the pictures I have repeatedly taken have needed adjusting and thus trips back along a local street to take them again. But the recent rains have added to this difficulty. I will bring you a blog tomorrow and hope the images are readable.

Sorry yet again for another delay!

Bart

Will be back on Wednesday

12/15/2019

I had to clarify some of the details re the next blog. But now other commitments prevent getting back to the blog till
probably Wednesday.

So I hope to post then, if not sooner!

Bart

Oh... I have slipped the surly bonds of earth... and danced the skies on laughter-silvered wings... 498

12/8/2019

The words of the poem High Flight were the subject of memory in my earliest years in pubic school. Like my brother and sisters and fellow classmates we had to recite them or probably stay after school to justify our poor memories. As perhaps did yours!

The poem's author... John Gillespie McGee Jr, was born in Shanghai to an American father and British mother. Moving to the US in 1939, he would travel to Canada, like thousands of others, to join the RCAF in 1940 and beyond. He got pilot trained, and was very soon sent off to England. It was here that he composed his famousl poem in September 1941.

On the 11th, 3 days from now, we should give thought to Pilot Officer McGee. On that day he was flying his spitfire in training exercises over England when something went horribly wrong and his plane collided with another, killing both pilots. He was only 19 years old at the time.

I was reminded of the story when invited, and attended a meeting a few days back by a very talented group of professionals. These men and one woman have considerable pride in Canada's air force and their heroes of days long since passed.

These folks have been planning, at least one for close to a decade, to see some local acknowledgement of the heroism of Lt. Robert Hampton Gray, VC, DSC, MID, RCNVR.

BC born "Hammy" was killed in action whilst leading an attack on five enemy warships. Having to take a very low approach to get his target he took on heavy fire from five war ships and ground installations and was shot down in to the sea. But not before sinking one of the destroyers.

Plans are well under foot for a suitable memorial at the Victoria Airport to commemorate this hero, and more will come in this space as they move closer to the day of dedication, probably in August of next year. In the months to come I will bring you a detailed blog on Lt. Gray's military service.

But moving on, still with the military and the airport, YYJ to most, but the Victoria Airport to the rest, got her start as a long grass strip. This is where the Royal Air Force trained many a pilot before being sent off to England during the 1939-1941 period. It was then taken over by the RCAF back about 1942. Within about six years the Airport was turned over to civilian authorities and renamed the Victoria International Airport. In 2018 it was declared the nation's 11th busiest airports, serving over 2 million traveling on more than 120,000 flights that year alone.

About a year ago I became aware of the fact that this airport played a significant role in Canada's military history.

For years dedicated civilians, some with military backgrounds, folks from the Victoria Airport Authority, families of deceased air force veterans and others worked together for a common cause. They wanted the public to know that some 10,000 troops were trained there. A further 179 were killed there either on training at the station or on flights originating in or out of the station.

Further, many may not realize that before the airport of today, a large air force headquarters building and a hospital were in full operation there as well.

This was the proposed monument, consisting of some maple trees, a walkway to the memorial, a place to sit and give thoughts to those that came before us, and a series or markers that would be inscribed with the names of those who paid the ultimate sacrifice for Canada and the commonwealth.

On July 1, 2017, about 300 members of the military, veterans, relatives, dignitaries and the public gathered to dedicate the new memorial that honoured not only those killed at the station but those before and after and those still serving. Note the airmen flying overhead.

The service men and women stood on the grounds, on a hill, called Hospital Hill, and in the very spot were the military hospital once stood. In the background is one of today's runways.

The monument has 25 "feathers" made of Corton Steel. Each known as a "Coopers Hawk Feather", for the bird known for its predatory nature, extraordinary agility in flight and ferocity in hunting. The names of the deceased airmen are inscribed as shown above.

Here is the first of two interpretive panels.

And here is the second panel...

Here we see the original hospital gates, opening up to the new memorial. Note the maple trees lining the entry, not in bloom due to it being November when I visited the memorial to pay my respects.

A closer look at the gates with their original plaques identifying the property and years of operation.

If you look closely at the individual markers you should detect the image of a native, the lands of which the entire monument stands. In the center area there is seating so that the visitor can sit and reflect on those who have gone before us. Below this is a memorial capsule containing many artifacts from WWll and including letters written to airmen who passed away. In this area some 1,000 original bricks from the original military hospital and/or the HQ building have been used around the sitting area.

Two remembrance wreaths have been placed on the seating area. Note the inscriptions of some of the deceased airmen on the markers.

The monument, correctly know as the Lost Airmen of the Empire Monument, is located just north of the airport at 1331 Mills Road.

I highly suggest you take the time to go and visit this most interesting and respectful memorial. And while you are at it, travel further west on Mills Road for less than a few min utes and you will get to West Saanich Rd. At that very corner is the Holy Trinity Church. And therein is the little visited grave of a major war hero... General George Pearkes.

Please also pay your respects to him when in the area.

thanks

see you next Sunday,

Bart