The Independent

The Royal Canadian Legion is 100 years old today.

After the First World War, a number of associations serving veterans – Amputation Association of the Great War and the Tuberculous Veterans’ Association and the largest of the groups was the Great War Veterans’ Association – merged at the urging of Field Marshal Earl Haig, founder of the British Legion and commander of the British Expeditionary Force during the First World War. He travelled the country talking about the creation of a single national voice to advocate for veterans welfare.

Representatives from various Veterans’ organizations across Canada met at Winnipeg’s Marlborough Hotel July 17, 1925. Ten groups with multiple branches and 50 independent regimental societies and clubs were present. The conference gave the new organization three goals, caring for war-disabled vets and their dependents, preserving public memory of Canadian’s sacrifices for peace and promoting a “greater national consciousness.

Percy Lake was chosen as the first National President, with Richard Turner and General Arthur Currie serving as Honorary Presidents. Currie, from Strathroy, had led Canadian troops to key victories during the Great War, later served as Legion National President 1928 and Grand President 1929–1933. In early 1926, Turner and Lake travelled the country to encourage membership in the new Canadian Legion, successfully creating Provincial Commands and uniting the national Veteran community.

In Lambton, the Sarnia Legion formed first Nov. 9, 1926. A Legion was formed in Wyoming in 1927, Watford was formed in 1930 and in Petrolia in 1934.

After the Second World War, the Leslie Sutherland Branch 447 in Corunna was formed in 1946, the same year the Dresden Legion reorganized and was formally chartered. It was originally founded in 1928. The Oil Springs Legion received its charter in 1947. Local veterans of the Second World War formed the branch to support soldiers and their families after the end of the conflict

In 1958, a local Pipe Band was formed in Forest. It would be 1977 before a Legion was set up.

Brigden was the last Legion to be formed in Lambton in 1984.

Most Legions have celebrations to mark the first century of the organization including Watford, which has a weekend of events planned this weekend.