The Royal Canadian Legion Saskatchewan Command LEST WE FORGET 39 A group of veterans from World War I gathered at St. Walburg in the R.M of North Star and formed a Legion called North Star Branch No. 13. The date this all began was December 13, 1926; also the day the Branch received its charter. The total number of memberships at this time was forty. The veterans’ names are as follows: J. Betrand, L. Billingslet, F.E. Bowbyers, J.M. Buick, J. Cassie, I. Edwards, E.L. Eldridge, A.H. Forbes, E. Henry, F. Hickman, E. Hope, Mrs. Ivy Hope, C.W. Ilsley, T. Johnstone, J.K. Kershaw, E.A. Knott, A. March, O. Marx, F. Mitchell, C.A. McDowell, W.H. McDowell, P.H. McFhault, A. Parkinson, J. Patterson, T. Pugh, C.T. Rowe, F.J. Scarrow, E. Taylor, J.C. Thomson, J.K. Thomson, J. Trainer, L. H. Twidale, H.H. Van Norman, G. Weber, A.J. Wesger, P. Whyman, R.E. Wilson, E.O. Wiltshire, J.A. Wright, and H.D. Wylie. Mr. Ilsley was instrumental in purchasing the building that was to be used as a Legion Hall. The date of the purchase is unknown, for in the year 1946, the Legion Hall was destroyed by a fire and all the records were destroyed along with it. The fire took place some time after a picture show that evening. The Veterans and Ladies’ Auxiliary started raising money in various ways to purchase a new hall, and by 1951, a new hall was built on the Legion property, by all volunteer labour. It was rented out to various organizations and for some time it was used as a cafe, while a new one was being built. It was also rented out as a Hardware store. In the year 1953, some partitions were removed and a 12’ x 20’ foot kitchen was added. The building was heated by wood and coal. In 1966, heating was installed. Bathrooms with sewer and water were installed in 1974, and natural gas was installed in 1982. In the year 1999, a building was purchased for $25,000 dollars, and some renovations were carried out at the cost of $5,000 dollars. On January 26, 2001, a Veteran and Legion member, by the name of Bill Pepper, paid off the Legion’s mortgage of $22,000 dollars, and the Legion had the mortgage burning on November 9, 2001. This really put the Legion on its feet and since then, their main money raiser has been a weekly bingo, where they net around eight to nine thousand dollars a year. The hall is also now rented out for court and for driving tests and exams, and for anyone who would like to rent it. The Legion sponsors and donates to various organizations, including the hospital, senior lodge, track and field, minor hockey, to the needy Veterans from the sale of poppies, Telemiracle, Easter sales, crippled children’s fund, Celebrated Legion 50th Golden Anniversary, and selling and planting tulips. There are numerous other ways that the Legion supports its area, but there are too many to mention along with other ways that they have raised money. In 1986 the Branch built a cenotaph and dedicated it in honour of the Legions 60th Diamond Jubilee Anniversary. The Legion has one paid member and that is the person who looks after the hall. The other members are all volunteers. To this day, the Legion still has 50 members, but only 10 or 12 regularly attend meetings. The St. Walburg Ladies’ Auxiliary North Star Branch No. 13 held their first meeting on September18, 1934, and received their charter. The Auxiliary was a very important part of the Legion. They raised money in many different ways, such as suppers, raffles, card parties, and many other functions. The ladies had a Sunshine Committee to visit the ill. Furthermore, they donated to the crippled children fund to camp Easter Seals, Telemiracle, and other organizations. They also kept track of everyone's birthdays and celebrated each one. The Ladies prepared food for the Zone rally, bowling functions, and curling events. They were the ones who served the lunches after the Remembrance Day Services. The ladies did a great deed for the Veterans by sending parcels overseas during the Second World War, and this was highly appreciated. Volunteers did all of this work, which took a lot of time and effort. On December 6, 1993, the last meeting was held. It was sad to say that the memberships were getting too few to carry on. The ladies gave up their charter and some of the Auxiliary Ladies then joined the men's Legion. The Legion gives a big “Thank you” to the ladies who served so faithfully over the years. The ladies were a great help to the Legion in supporting it the way they did. NORTH STAR BRANCH 13
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MTM0NTk1OA==