The Royal Canadian Legion Saskatchewan Command LEST WE FORGET 167 LADIES’ AUXILIARY TO STOUGHTON-TECUMSEH BRANCH 133 The Ladies’ Auxiliary was formed in the council chambers of the Stoughton Town Hall on August 18, 1941, under Zone Representative Mrs. Weightman of Weyburn. Ten members were initiated. Mrs. Mildred Sutherland of Heward was the first President. During the Second World War the Auxiliary sent cigarettes, mitts, socks and parcels of chocolate bars to the men overseas. In the 1950s, the meetings were moved to the Legion building where funds were raised by card parties, bake sales and rummage sales. Swimming lessons were sponsored at White Lake. In 1968, they moved their meetings to the new Legion facility, where they stayed until they dissolved in 2003. Their first priority was the Veterans Comfort Fund and also donated funds to schools for bursaries and sponsored a student to the Provincial Track and Field Camp. They donated to local hockey teams, baseball teams, the swimming pool, drop-in centre, arts and entertainment. On November 11th of every year, they donated monies to the Legion Branch ranging from $50.00 in 1941 to amounts exceeding $2,000.00 in the later years. The Ladies were definitely the backbone of the local Legion Branches. STOUGHTON – TECUMSEH BRANCH 133 (...Cont’d) Manitou Lake Royal Canadian Legion Branch 135 was organized in November of 1947, with twelve Comrades in attendance. They held their first meetings at Gibbons’ Garage, the pool elevator office or the CPR waiting room. They made plans to build a Legion Hut and completed it in 1948. Funds raised for the Hut were made by holding dances and raffles. A reorganizational meeting was held in November of 1949 with the Legion Zone representatives T. Hubbard and Babcock addressing the lack of interest and the needs of the Legion Branch. In 1950, the Legion sponsored a Junior Baseball team, made donations to the Neilburg Union Hospital and the reconstruction of the Neilburg Community Hall and to the blind. The Neilburg Legion Ladies’ Auxiliary wasn’t organized until 1952. The Auxiliary held their meetings at their homes and the CPR waiting room. They raised funds by having bake sales, a birthday box, raffles and collecting lunch money. The Freemont Branch was organized on June 22, 1947 with twelve Comrades present. They held their first meetings in the Municipal Office in Freemont and later in their homes. They built their Hut in 1949, raising money by raffles, dances and whist drives. On November 15, 1949 The Royal Canadian Legion held a joint meeting with the ladies to organize a Legion Auxiliary with representatives Mrs. Mitchell and Mrs. G. Skinner to initiate new members. There had to be seven ladies to form an Auxiliary. They held their first meetings in their homes. Fundraisers for the Auxiliary were sales of candy, Christmas cards, and knitted afghans. In 1953, Manitou Lake and Freemont Legions held a joint meeting with Comrade George Edwards, Zone representative present, and decided to amalgamate into one Legion Branch, which was named the Neilburg Branch 135. The Freemont Hut was moved to Neilburg and joined onto the existing Hut to form a larger space. In 1955, they built on a kitchen, where the Auxiliary Ladies held their meetings. By 1974, the Auxiliary helped to put in a furnace, water and sewer. In 1977 they put carpet in the kitchen and fluorescent lights in the hall area. This was quite a change from the old wood coal heater and oil burner. The Neilburg Branch has sponsored many organizations and events over the years, including: sponsorship of hockey teams buying sweaters; they sponsored the Carnival Queen in 1957; they held bingo games to raise funds to send to the Neilburg Union Hospital and Community Hall. The Ladies’ Auxiliary raised funds for Veterans’ comforts and Christmas fruit baskets for seniors and provided Scholarships and Bursaries to students. They also helped to fund a new x-ray machine and heart monitor for the hospital. The Branch and Auxiliary have also helped with chores around the hospital and United Church and even helped Comrades who have had house fires in their area. The Ladies’ Auxiliary disbanded in 1993, due to lack of membership, and some of them joined the Neilburg Branch at that time. The Branch continued on with its support to the community, hosting garage sales and barbeques. In 1995, Robbie Burns Night was implemented, along with Mother’s Day Brunches and Amateur Talent Nights, all aimed at maintaining the Legion’s commitment to the community. 1999 saw a member of the Neilburg Branch attend the Youth Pilgrimage to Europe. Upon her return, she spoke to 3000 people about her experiences in Europe during that year. In 2000, the Branch decided to create a Memorial Park in honour of those Comrades who served. It officially opened in 2003, and is located at the corner of 2nd Street West and 1st Avenue. Much fundraising was done for this venture also. In 2005, the membership decided to set the goal of a new Legion Hut to be built next to the Memorial Park. As of this present date, the Branch has seven WWII Veterans: Grant Doolittle, Neil Lamb, Rex Hall, Russell Goodfellow, Maurice Lane, Norman Peart, Les Graham; as well as 50 regular members, and going strong. They hosted a celebration in the fall of 2006 to honour 60-year member Russell Goodfellow and 50-year member Neil Lamb. The Branch still continues to support the community and in turn the community supports the Branch by participating in our Remembrance Day services. NEILBURG BRANCH 135
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