By: Pam Wright, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Chatham Voice
Two new storyboards are paying homage to Chatham-Kent’s military history.
Located at the cenotaph on King Street in downtown Chatham, one tells the tale of how the monument came to be. The other details a battle that took place at the location as part of the War of 1812.
Royal Canadian Legion Branch 642 president Len Maynard said the Chatham cenotaph is one of a kind – the only Canadian cenotaph located on a battlefield.
“I don’t know of any others,” said the 30-year Canadian Armed Forces veteran. “Chief Tecumseh was wounded here,” he added, noting the esteemed Indigenous warrior who fought alongside the British, perished at the Battle of the Thames the following day.
The other storyboard offers a brief history of how local residents came together to create the 190-ton granite memorial to honour veterans after the First World War. It was officially unveiled on Nov. 8, 1923.
The plaques are part of the improvements undertaken at the Chatham cenotaph in the last couple of years following a bout of vandalism. A wrought-iron fence has been installed, a vibrant mural graces a nearby wall, poppies adorn the utility box and state-of-the-art camera surveillance is on site.
According to Maynard, he and Mayor Darrin Canniff have worked together on the upgrades.
“The mayor and I have had many discussions on that and the way forward, we thought, is to educate the public,” Maynard said. “There’s so much history in this area. A lot of people don’t realize how important Chatham-Kent (then Upper Canada) was in the War of 1812.”
Mayor Darrin Canniff said the improvements, notably the storyboards, are being made to honour and to educate.
“We want to make it so people want to come and visit them,” the mayor said of the cenotaph plaques. “When people learn about our military history, it’s a powerful tool.”
Canniff said the upgrades in Chatham have boosted security and made the monument more attractive.
“It certainly improves the site a lot,” the mayor explained. “That was our objective.”
The two Chatham plaques are the first to be installed in Chatham-Kent and more are on the way, telling the many stories of local heroes all the way from the War of 1812 to present day. Five storyboards will take shape in Chatham, and other C-K communities will be getting them as well.
Following approval by council in 2023, Chatham-Kent has spent $200,000 improving cenotaphs across the municipality. On top of that in Chatham, a vibrant mural has been created on the west side of the cenotaph thanks to Hydro One Community Fund donations made on behalf of the mayor and Chatham Coun. Brock McGregor.
Crosswalks paying tribute to Canada’s veterans have also been installed in Chatham, Wallaceburg, Tilbury, Erieau and Dresden,
Canniff said the municipality is looking to work with all of C-K’s 11 legions on the storyboard project.
