Re-Dedication Ceremony Held for Restored Boer War Memorial
Today, Mayor Drew Dilkens joined with members of local military organizations for a special re-dedication ceremony commemorating the restoration of the Boer War Memorial at Jackson Park, 125 Tecumseh Road East.
The mayor was joined by Hardy Wheeler, Army veteran and Lieutenant-Colonel (Retired), representing the Essex and Kent Scottish Regiment Association; Richard Gow, President of the Windsor-Essex Branch of the Royal Canadian Regiment Association; Tom Skelding, President of the Royal Canadian Dragoons Association; Gene Lotz, author of the book Canadians in a Forgotten War – Boer War, 1899 to 1902; Mary Baruth, also representing the Essex and Kent Scottish; and local veterans and their loved ones.
The special commemoration served to re-dedicate the significant piece while showcasing recent work undertaken to restore the monument that honours the Boer War in South Africa.
About the Boer War
As detailed by the Canadian War Museum, the South African War (1899 to 1902) or, as it is also known, the Boer War, marked Canada's first official dispatch of troops to an overseas war. In 1899, fighting erupted between Great Britain and two small republics in South Africa. The two republics, settled by Boers, descendants of the region's first Dutch immigrants, were not expected to survive for long against the world's greatest power. Pro-Empire Canadians nevertheless urged their government to help. Canada’s then Prime Minister Sir Wilfrid Laurier agreed to send a battalion of volunteers to South Africa. Over the next three years, more than 7,000 Canadians, including 12 women nurses, and 48 Windsor-Essex locals, served overseas. Of the Canadians who served in South Africa, 267 were killed and are listed in the Books of Remembrance. To learn more about the Boer War, visit the Canadian War Museum’s Boer War History online resources.
About the Boer War Memorial in the City of Windsor
The Boer War Memorial was built as a memorial fountain in honour of the Canadian volunteers who served as soldiers of the British Empire during the war in South Africa, Anno Domini (A.D.) 1899 to 1902. It was dedicated by the local military community in 1906. This memorial to support “the Windsor boys who lost their lives in South Africa” was funded primarily by the community with the Veteran’s Mother’s Committee in charge of raising funds. Through their fundraising initiatives, the project grew from a memorial monument into a memorial fountain. The local community raised funds to build the monument, with support from the City of Windsor and the federal government.
It was originally located outside the former Post Office. The project was sympathetically designed to create a meaningful focal point on the streetscape, and great care was taken with the design of the fountain to ensure that it was prominently featured. The monument is made of limestone and bronze, and measures 147 by 902 by 250 centimetres. The central feature is the large tablet over the fountain executed in bronze in heavy relief depicting a battle scene typical of the South African warfare. Inscriptions and legends were placed on the memorial describing its history and purpose. The architect of the fountain was John Scott of Detroit, Michigan (John Scott & Co.), with support from Walter Allward and the County of Essex, Ontario.
The memorial was moved to Jackson Park in 1932. Upon the extension of Ouellette Avenue in 1961, it was moved again to its current location on the south edge of the Queen Elizabeth II Sunken Gardens at Jackson Park, and re-dedicated. By 2016, the monument required significant repairs. The water fountain component ceased to operate and was converted into a flower planter more than twenty years ago. In 2020, City Council approved an extensive restoration project; the monument was fenced off to ensure public safety, and a heritage architect consultant was brought on to oversee the restoration and ensure completion of the repairs required to restore this important memorial honouring the Windsorites and Canadians who participated in the Boer War.
The City’s Community Services division, through Parks, Recreation and Culture, worked closely with +VG Heritage Architects and Clifford Restoration Limited on the $675,000 restoration project, which included memorial stonework repairs, surrounding pathway reconstruction, re-furbishing of decorative stone basin and ornamental features, and a new historical plaque.
The bronze plaque inscription on the east face reads:
In honour of the
Canadian Volunteers
who served as soldiers of the
British Empire
during the war in
South Africa. A.D. 1899-1902.
Erected by the people of
the country of Essex, Ontario
The bronze plaque inscription on the west face reads:
Inscribed on this tablet
are the names of the volunteers, residents of the County of Essex,
who served in the British Army, during the war in South Africa.
A.D. 1899 - 1902
First Contingent, Special Service Battalion,
Royal Canadian Regiment of Infantry.
[listed names]
Second Contingent, 1st Battalion, Canadian Mounted Rifles.
[listed names]
Third Contingent, 2nd, 3rd, 4th Battalions.
Canadian Mounted Rifles, and S.A.Constabulary.
[listed names]
Quotes:
“The City of Windsor has a proud tradition of honouring our veterans, remembering their bravery and sacrifices, preserving their stories, and supporting their loved ones. We gather to commemorate significant battles, victories, and losses, standing side by side to pay our respects. We maintain a large collection of monuments and memorials throughout our parks and neighbourhoods that provide gathering places to recognize the battles that shaped our community and our lives. The Boer War Memorial is an important commemorative marker in Jackson Park, and a special focal point for Windsor’s military history. I am pleased to see it restored with such incredible attention to detail, and re-dedicated at its home once again.” - Mayor Drew Dilkens
“As soldiers, we are called to serve when and where asked by our government. The South African War 1899 to 1902, also called the Boer War, was the first overseas deployment of the Canadian military. It was a nasty conflict. This memorial is Windsor’s first ‘war memorial,’ dedicated in 1906 and refurbished several times since, including this year. The memorial is important so we remember the 48 local citizens who served in South Africa and especially those who died or were wounded in service to Canada.” - Lieutenant-Colonel (Retired) Hardy Wheeler; 30 years of service in The Royal Canadian Regiment, including 3 years as CO of The Essex and Kent Scottish.