The Royal Canadian Legion Saskatchewan Command LEST WE FORGET 143 On January 27, 1928, a meeting was held in the I.O.O.F hall at Wawota by returned men of the district to arrange the forming of a Branch of the Canadian Legion of the B.E.S.L on January 27, 1928. Preliminary inquiries with Regina had been carried out and this was read to those present. The organizing of the Branch proceeded from there. This was to be known as the Wawota Branch of the Canadian Legion, B.E.S.L., and a slate of officers were elected accordingly. Membership fees were set at $4.00 per year. At the next meeting, which was held on February 8,1928, a minute of silence was observed and it was moved that November 11th each year would be held as a Memorial Day, and April 9th would be a Festive Day. Fallen comrades’ names were read aloud by the Branch Secretary on both these days. From the start, the Branch was very conscious of the plight of the Veteran and his dependents. Red Cross clothing was distributed, and employment for various comrades was solicited. Pensions were applied for by making a representation to various bodies of both Canadian and British government. Loans were made to Veterans, gifts were given, drugs purchased, transportation arranged, and doctors and dental bills were assisted. A meeting place was of prime importance. A hall was purchased and then the Branch invited the ladies of the district to form a "Ladies Auxiliary." The Branch helped them organize in 1930. Their many acts of kindness, donations, and the grace they brought to Legion functions by supplying meals and lunches, and their dedication to all things Legion, made the adoption of their organization one of the best moves the Branch ever made. Membership, when the Branch was first formed, was fifteen, but swelled to eighty after the Second World War. Dues were only two dollars during the thirties, but were hard to come by and were often paid for with labour or loads of wood. Ladies’ Auxiliary membership peaked at forty-seven in the thirties. Accomplishments recorded by the Branch over the seventy-five years were varied and many. In most of these, the Ladies’Auxiliary assistance was prominent. Probably one of the biggest efforts was the taking over of the town hall. It was enlarged to twice its size, a kitchen, dining lounge, and heating area were added. Also included were a Legion Club Room and a Ladies’ Lounge. Another project was the raising of funds for the building of the Wawota Nursing Home. Other Legion projects included the acquiring of a Soldiers’ Plot and erecting a cairn in the local cemetery. Honour rolls were completed and displayed and the Ladies’ Auxiliary was instrumental in organizing a gallery of all Veterans pictures. A strong canvas was conducted in connection with the Veterans Independence Program, and quite a few Veterans and their dependants were helped. Bursaries and scholarships for deserving students were instituted. The Branch took part in celebrating of U.S. Memorial Day by being part of "Hands Across the Border," where a contingent of Canadian Veterans joined forces with American Veterans at Sherwood border crossing, U.S.A. A Wall of Remembrance was organized and displayed, wherein those who did not return from war were honored by having their picture and histories showing a geographical feature in northern Saskatchewan named for them. This wall was dedicated on November 11, 2003, with families of the fallen participating. The wall will be part of the Legion Club Rooms forever. The latest project, as of this date 2006, is the erecting of a Cenotaph. The Branch has been most active down through the years in Legion and district events and it has reason to be proud of its accomplishments. It has been fortunate in the caliber of its leadership and it is hoped that its future will be as rewarding as its past. WAWOTA BRANCH 113 Box 9 Welwyn, SK S0A 4L0 Secretary: Garfield Fischer Phone: 306-733-2122 President: Orville Harper Phone: 306-733-2155 Branch Charter Date: 10 January 1928 Current Membership: 22 Auxiliary Charter Date: 31 May 1938 WELWYN BRANCH 112
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