The Royal Canadian Legion Saskatchewan Command LEST WE FORGET 103 The First World War, which soon became known as the Great War, started for the British Empire when it declared war on the German and Austrian Empire on August 4, 1914. Men from all parts of the empire answered the call to arms. The next four years and three months were bad and unforgettable. Of those who survived, many of us apparently felt that the close comradeship gained during the bad times, also many good times, should not be just thrown away. As a result of demobilization, during 1919 and the 1920’s, several organizations were formed of discharged soldiers, sailors and airmen. One was the GWVA or Great War Veterans Association. In towns and cities, returned Vets were contacted and many joined the clubs, which were soon organized in local Branches with country or provincial and national headquarters. In Canada, this work proceeded in the same way. In places like Australia, New Zealand and our own Canada, there were many places like this. TheYPRE district, which was about 17 or more miles northwest of Preeceville, was one of these. Early in 1924, a meeting was held in the home of Bolas Izdebski of young returned men who were farming, including several from the town of Preeceville. Out of this meeting, a Branch was formed allied to the GWVA. At this meeting, according records, were: David Jaques, Joseph Pringle, R. Johnston, F. Howlett, Alec Bigart, W. Harvey, B. Izdebski, H. Fee, C. Grice, C. Hilton, N. Thomson, T. Thomas and H. Prince. In the next six or eight years, others came to the district and joined, including g. W. Bryson, Ira Pipher, T. Harvey, D. Sinclair, H. Gotts, W. Campbell, Ed Hovey, J. Crozier, N. Wall, Ed Daley, C. Schell, F. Klingman, D. Jefferies, E. Daglesh (padre), G. Petrie, Ed and Oscar Clemetson, Art Carlyle, J. Malek, J. Sigurdson, W. Whalley and C. McAllister. So, from 1924 to 1939, about 35 members signed up. In 1926, the Branch joined the New British Empire Service League, known as BESL. They received a charter numbered 72. In 1928, the CNR line came north from Sturgis to Hudson Bay Junction and a railway station was named Endeavour. This name was taken from the name of the plane, which attempted to cross the Atlantic Ocean from east to west. Bolas Izdebski moved his store to the new village, which as approximately 16 miles north of Preeceville. The Branch was reorganized in 1930, and in 1931, moved the Veterans’ hall to Endeavour, and took the name Endeavour 72. The Preeceville comrades now formed their own Legion Branch. The BESL, now known as the Legion, got many pieces of legislation passed in Ottawa to help Veterans and widows and their children, and really helped pave the way for the Veterans of the Second World War, which was rapidly coming up. However, we cannot leave the 1930’s without giving credit to the man who kept the Branch going by dances (with the help of their wives who brought lunch) concerts, cinematograph shows and kept up the hall for various community and official business. These names stand out: Dave Jaques, carpenter; Bolas Izdebski, who was always there; Joe (Major) Pringle; Fred Capper, Branch Secretary for many years; and of course, a good dozen others. At the outbreak of war in September 1939, the Branch got down to business again. The hall was used for Red Cross meetings, patriotic concerts, etc. The members sent cigarettes to men overseas, and if a member re-enlisted, his dues were paid for him. In 1945, the Nazis finally collapsed and during the next fourteen months, as many as 78 men signed up in Branch 72 as they came back. Of course, most of these pulled out as they obtained work elsewhere. Many men, however, stayed and took up land and farmed here, married here and the Branch became strong. During 1957, after much discussion, a new Legion hall was built with a concrete foundation and a round galvanized roof. Most of the labour was voluntary. Material was bought with funds in the bank and some money was loaned by members and local friends. This effort was finished in 1958. Sometime during 1959, the wives were organized into the Ladies’ Auxiliary and continued their good supportive work. In the 1960’s, despite members leaving the district, and transferring to many other Branches, Endeavour Branch 72 still had about thirty members and seven Honourary members. Members of the Legion can be proud of the fact that Canada has the best Veterans’ legislation in the world, due to being able to express their views with a concerted voice to fairly sympathetic government. The Legion members held turkey shoots each year, as well as derbies at McBride Lake. Members entered in the Legion curling and held the zone curling bonspiel n 1969. Each Armistice Day, they held service in the church, with the local ministers in charge. After the laying of wreaths at the Normandy Cemetery, a potluck dinner was served by the Ladies’ Auxiliary in the Legion hall. An oil furnace was installed in the hall, which was quite a change from wood heat. In 1971, they sold the sports grounds to the village and a walk-a-thon was planned with the community, as funds were beginning to dwindle. A meeting was called which they invited the community to attend. At this meeting, it was decided that the community take over the hall and the hall debts and call it Legion Community Hall, with two Legion members on the hall committee and the room upstairs over the kitchen to be for Legion members. This was a sad time for our Veterans, as no monies were ever received after they let the community take over. But being steadfast in their ways, they continued on, asking their wives to join them at their meetings, which were now held in each home. During this time, the Legion Community Hall Club had dwindled down to two members and no meetings were held. The Veterans thought it was time to sell the hall. This, they did, and it is now the Community Athletic Centre, bought by three young men of the community. ENDEAVOUR BRANCH 72 ~ Closed
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