The Royal Canadian Legion Saskatchewan Command LEST WE FORGET 37 On May 16, 1928, Craik Branch 10 Canadian Legion, British Empire Service League, received its charter. In 1959, they dropped British Empire Service League, and in 1961, Royal was added. A copy of the original charter was lost when the Legion Hall was destroyed by fire in 1968. The hall was rebuilt the next year with the help of the Legion. Craik Branch 10 continues to help fellow veterans and dependents in need, give scholarships for students, support youth track and field and participate in community affairs, in particular the November 11th service. They presently have 29 members. In 1922, a Ladies' Auxiliary was formed in connection with the Craik Great War Veterans. They held meetings during the 1930s, and on March 2, 1935, they received a charter, and the Ladies' Auxiliary to the Canadian Legion was organized. Their aims were to help the Veterans, make donations to the Veterans' Comfort Fund, and to the scholarship fund for the children of Veterans. Catering was their largest money raiser. They dismantled on January 1, 2001. CRAIK BRANCH 10 The inauguration of Mossbank Veterans took place on November 8, 1923 with D. McNaughton, E. Tylee and P.J. Rawlinson forming the executive. This was the first year a Remembrance Day service was held in Mossbank. On April 21, 1926, a meeting of Mossbank Veterans was called for the purpose of forming a Branch of the Royal Canadian Legion. They received their charter on October 12, 1926, and become known as Branch #11 of the Royal Canadian Legion. Meetings were held in the Rawlinson Hardware and in the Cropp building, then in the Empress Hotel. In World War Two, meetings were held in the Masonic Lodge. After the war, plans to have a portion of the Community Hall for a Legion Hall did not materialize. Arrangements were made instead, to purchase a building from No. 2 Bombing and Gunnery School at the airport. In the spring of 1948, the building was moved to its present location by Mr. Cal Sutor. The Legion, having purchased the original building, found themselves short of funds to pay for moving the building, so they agreed to give the Mossbank Hospital half of the building to pay for the moving - this half become the Nurses’ Residence. The Legion president at that time was Comrade Pete Allan. Through the years, Branch 11 members have supported Veterans and their dependants who were in need. They have provided comforts for Veterans in hospital or in home care, and have supported efforts to improve the quality of life in this community. For many years, the Branch has had a cribbage night for everyone in the community. They have, on occasion, supported the Legion Provincial Sports programs, and have always supported the Zone sports and cribbage events. The 25-pounder artillery piece, which is parked on the north side of the Legion Hut distinguishes our Branch from other Branches. Like the 25-pounder, Branch 11 stands on guard. LADIES’ AUXILIARY TO MOSSBANK BRANCH 11 The Ladies’ Auxiliary was formed on January 11, 1946, with Zone Representative, Mrs. Bertha Byers, in attendance. There were 12 charter members; the first president was Mrs. C. Wyldman. The Auxiliary set about to raise funds to help further the aims and purpose of the Canadian Legion. The main interest was to make provisions for visiting and providing comfort for sick and disabled Veterans and their dependants. Other worthy contributions went to books for troops, national disaster fund, and a special auxiliary scholarship for Veterans’ children. The Auxiliary also promotes the Poppy Day campaign. Resources: History and Reminiscences of Lake Johnston and Sutton Municipalities, Furrows and Faith, a history of RM 102 and RM 103. MOSSBANK BRANCH 11 In 1919, a group of World War I Veterans formed a branch called the Great War Vets. They had no hall, so meetings and other events were held in various buildings. On June 5, 1926, the Branch received its charter with about sixty members. The Ladies’Auxiliary received its charter in 1948. In 1933, the Legion build a cenotaph in memory of the Veterans. In 1948, an old army barracks was moved in and is still being used as part of the hall. There was a lot of hard work in digging the basement by hand. Fundraisers for the Branch include sports days, walk-a-thons, raffles, suppers, bingos, to name a few. The club has twenty-two members. On the south wall of the clubroom, the wall is covered by 8” x 10” pictures of Veterans of the Army, Air Force, and Navy from the Piapot area. If only the walls could talk…. PIAPOT BRANCH 12
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