The Royal Canadian Legion Saskatchewan Command LEST WE FORGET 45 The Sintaluta Branch of the Canadian Legion was formed from a number of Great War Veteran Associations, which had been organized after the First World War. In Sintaluta, the Great War Veterans Association was the forerunner of the Royal Canadian Legion. On Dec. 6, 1919, with Chuck Dundas as President, the first meeting of the G.W.V.A. was held with fourteen members present: F. Booth, H. Talbot, N. Forsyth, W. Ewart, T. Bryson, W. Troughton, G. Holmes, J. Bryson, Chuck Dundas, W. Durrell, W. Stratton, J. Watt, L.S. Darling, and Dr. Gareau. Fred Dundas was given Honorary Membership for his assistance to the G.W.V.A. in December 1919. The Association met in the Dundas garage until the Memorial Hall was built. They used the Library room in the Memorial Hall until the Membership became too large to accommodate them. They then met in James Watts’ rooms until they acquired the Legion rooms in a building donated to them by Chas. Farrow. The Sintaluta Branch of the B.E.S.L. (British Empire Service League) received its charter on October 6, 1926, with the following charter members: John Westmorland, James Watt, R.G. MacDonald, Neil Prain, Geo. Francis, Ivie Richardson, Walter Ewart, Arthur Francis, Walter Paxton, C.L. Dicken, W.C. Diment, Thomas Mitchell, Sam Pike, Ernest Ingle, and Ernest Chamberlain. Today, the Legion continues to support the community by still having a Poppy Campaign and having a Remembrance Day each year, plus other projects. Our membership has declined over the years with our 2006 membership at 15 members, with 6 Ordinary members and 9 Associate members. LADIES AUXILIARY TO SINTALUTA BRANCH 18 The Ladies’ Auxiliary to Sintaluta Branch 18 was organized on Feb. 13, 1945. The eligible ladies of Sintaluta and Districts were encouraged to organize by Mrs. Cecil Fox. Her husband at that time was an agent on the Carry-the-Kettle Assiniboine Reserve south of Sintaluta. The meeting was held at the home of Mrs. Bert Lowe. Mrs. Penfold of Cupar, the Zone Representative of Regina Zone 1 of this area was present and the Auxiliary was organized. Mrs. Fox was elected President. Other officers were also elected. The Branch appreciated the organization of the ladies. Charter members were: Cora Durrell, Gwen Lowe, Vera Diment, Elsie Luther, Madeline Henty, Hazel Boustead, Alice Davies, Ethel Doull, Ethel Fox, Mildred Blakley, Dorothy Dicken, Florence Hodgson, Eva Cox, Elizabeth Serson, Mary Paxton and Beatrice Luther. With declining membership, the Ladies Auxiliary disbanded in 1995. They were greatly missed by the community and especially the Legion Branch with their help over the years. SINTALUTA BRANCH 18 Kelvington Veterans returning from World War I felt the need for comradeship, and on October 12, 1926, received their charter under the Great War Veterans Association. A meeting place was their biggest problem, but they worked hard and soon found a building on Railway Avenue. Several other moves were made, but when the building burned down, they were forced into building a new hall, which also burned down before completion. The Vets had met in the basement and called their meeting place the "Dug-Out." Determination could be called their motto, as they went to work on building yet another hall. November 11th was always recognized with a banquet. Poppies were proudly worn by old and young, alike. Dances proved to be their best fundraisers. The Second World War saw many young men and women leave to serve and fight for their country. Not wanting them to come back to a huge debt on the hall, it was sold and eventually became a theatre. The "Dug-Out" still served as a meeting place. World War II Veterans returned home in 1945-1946. With the help of the Town of Kelvington, they purchased an Air Force building at Dafoe (a training area for pilots) and moved it to Kelvington. Many volunteer hours went into making it a place of their own, and it became the center for fundraising and entertainment for many years. Disaster struck, once again, on the morning of May 9, 1975, when the fire alarm announced the Legion Hall was burning down! Once again, the Legion was faced with some big decisions. They had $50,000.00 of insurance money, but it was not enough to rebuild a new hall. The Town was eligible for provincial grants, so together, a new hall, the Kelvington-Legion Community Centre was officially opened on August 19, 1977. The Lieutenant Governor, the Honourable George Porteaus (a WWI Veteran), cut the ribbon to declare the building open. Since that time, the energies of the Legion membership has been the operation of the new centre. Through the years, Kelvington Legion has always found ways to contribute funds to many worthy causes in the community and area. They have supported and encouraged students to attend Track and Field, to participate in the annual Poetry and Essay contest - a plaque is proudly hung in the Kelvington High School naming David Ashdown as the winner of the 1965 National Remembrance Essay Contest. Donations have regularly been made to such groups as the Salvation Army, Camp Easter Seal, the Cancer Society, Canadian Diabetes, the local Library, and many funds given to the local Hospital, the KELVINGTON BRANCH 19 (Cont’d...)
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