The Royal Canadian Legion Saskatchewan Command LEST WE FORGET 145 Soon after the First World War in 1919, Indian Head Veterans formed a Branch of “The Great War Veterans Association.” They were given the name Branch No. 114. Some of the original members were: Harvey McCorkindale, Fred Handley, Jack Dinwoodie, Joe Thompson, George Drake, Leslie Oldham, Harvey Cole, Fred Briant, Alex Badenoch, Joe Philips, Dan McDonald, Tom Ramsay, Jack Creighton, and Charlie MacIntosh. The Branch was very active for a number of years and much good work was one in those days. In 1925, the name was changed to “The Canadian Legion,” then at a later date, the prefix “Royal” was added. Their charter is dated October 1926. Money was raised through July 1st Sports Days, with horse racing, Ice Carnivals, dances, bingos, etc. Meetings were first held in the old town hall in the upstairs rooms until the “Memorial Hall” was built in the fall of 1954, and the new meeting rooms were used for the first meeting in January 1955. Sports that the Branch enjoyed include curling and golf. Members of the Branch were provincial curling champions in 1978. The Legion sponsors many causes, such as bursaries and scholarships for sons and daughters of Veterans, as well as supporting the Indian Head Hospital and Nursing Home. Their main sponsorship is the Indian Head Air Cadet Squadron 691, which was started in 1942 as Squadron 47, but was changed to Squadron 691 in 1959. Present Branch membership is 69. The Branch has placed a poppy grave marker on the grave of all Veterans in the Indian Head Cemetery. LADIES’ AUXILIARY INDIAN HEAD BRANCH 114 On the April 12, 1928, Indian Head received their Charter and the name was changed to "Ladies Auxiliary Canadian Legion British Empire Service League #114" from Indian Head Auxiliary. The names of the first members were recorded: Mary Jane Grace Macdona1d, Florance Swinn, Edna Coleman, Annie Donally, Maud Josephine McCorkindale, Elizabeth North, Rubbina Elizabeth Turner, Isabell Brocklebank, Ella Elizabeth Briant, May Clark Holyoak, Maud Evelyn Hudson, Annie Bells Cole, Margaret Burnie, Margaret Jane Linton, Mary Ellen Young. In the early thirties, the ladies went through the draught years and the Legion, both men and ladies, worked with many distress cases giving groceries, clothing, bedding, money and lodgings, when necessary. Shortly after this, the Second World War broke out and many young men and women joined the forces from our district and soon the Indian Head Seventy Six (76th) Battery were on their way overseas. The Ladies’ Auxiliary, with the help of the Legion, soon had arrangements made for parcels to be sent to all Indian and District service men and women three times a year, with 185 parcels sent each time. The ladies sold lunches at dances, held Teas, catered to banquets, weddings and held raffles and card parties to raise money. The Legion men helped with expenses, as did the different organizations in town. Businesses in the town donated money and donation boxes were put in each store. Even the school children helped to pack and carry parcels. After the war was over, mothers of sons who had served, young wives of returned men, and overseas brides joined the Auxiliary. This was a great help because there was still much to be done for the Veterans and their dependents, as Veterans were still in hospitals and Veterans’ Homes and our other charities. Through the years, the ladies have donated annually to the Bursary Fund for children of Veterans, Donors Choice, Indian Head Hospital, Nursing Home, sponsored a child for Camp Easter Seal, helped to furnish the Legion Rooms in the Memorial Hall and assist the Legion in any way possible. Their main concern through the years was always the Veterans Comfort Fund and to this they gave their major donation each year. The ladies had a Home and Hospital visiting Committee, took part in Remembrance Day Services, helped in the Poppy Campaign, and catered. It was a very hard decision to make, but with the aging members and unsuccessful membership drive it was unanimously decided that Indian Head Royal Canadian Legion Ladies’ Auxiliary #114 would disband. Dissolution took place on January 3, 2002. INDIAN HEAD BRANCH 114 Rosthern Branch 115 was founded on February 16, 1933. C. B. McLacklen was the founding President in 1933; 1934-35, W.H. Morris was President; 1936-37, A. L Gosling was President. The Branch charter was stolen, so it is not known who else was part of the founding membership. The Legion hall in Rosthern is a country school building that was moved into town at 2015 9th Street. The original building has been added onto four times, with the last addition being a covered deck and wheelchair ramp. The Branch has an active Poppy Campaign and Remembrance program. Remembrance services are conducted at four area schools each year, as well as the community program on November 11th. All Branch activities are done on a volunteer basis. There is one paid staff person who looks after hall rentals and hall cleaning, as well as grounds-keeping and snow removal. The Ladies’Auxiliary to Rosthern Branch 115 was founded on April 25, 1956. There were very active raising funds, catering, purchasing dishes and kitchen tools, and with general care of the Legion hall. The Auxiliary disbanded in 1994, but more than half the regular members of the Branch are now women; where before the Legion consisted of all men, and the Auxiliary was all women. In the 1960’s, we had an Army Cadet Corp funded and instructed by the Legion. Boy Scouts and Girl Guides used the Legion hall at no charge for a number of years, until they disbanded in the area. The Batoche Chapter 424 of the I.O.D.E. was chartered on February 19, 1915. It is not known where they held their meetings prior to 1933, but they were permitted to use the Legion hall, free of charge, until they disbanded. Their charter still hangs on the Legion wall. ROSTHERN BRANCH 115
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