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Info from the 1955
History Book, and my notes
Bienfait Legion
B.E.S.L.
(British Empire Service League)
Branch 169
Legion Hall on Main St. ca early 1950's postcard
Sent from Alex Wilson Collection, by Margaret Cuddington, Apr 2011
Legion Ad from a mid 1950 Cook Book
Drawings of the
Legion Hall from the 1955 History book
The Bienfait Legion was formed in October 1931.
The President of the Estevan Legion encouraged
the ex-servicemen to form this
Branch, after the riot in Sept 1931.
Meeting of Veterans in Bienfait
Anglican Church
Hall, ca 1930
This would have been the initial meeting of forming the Legion in Bienfait.
photo courtesy Ingrid Beahm
The first meetings were held twice monthly in the Ukrainian Library. Ex-Servicemen met in the Hawkinson Hall, now the Legion Hall.
Meetings were also held in the Green Hall on Main st.
4th lot south of Souris Ave, or Highway 18, on the east side.
At the initial meeting Chas. Locke, then Principal of the school,
was elected President. A. H. Cuddington, Treasurer,
and Ken John Secretary with an Executive which included:
Prescott, Bembridge, Rawcliffe, Richardson, Philip,
Dee, Enmark, Moffat, and Worral.
A. Redford of Weyburn, then zone Representative,
along with Tommy Douglas, were in charge of the initiation and installation
ceremonies which admitted some forty veterans into the ranks
of the Legion.
The Branch chose Art Graham as their honourary member.
I would think the Legion is on Lot 206 in this 1915 map
It is set back by one empty corner lot in front.
back in 1915 this was the location of a General Store
including hardware, with a flour warehouse behind it.
Ceremony of some sort, War Bonds?,
Sept 6, 1944, inside Bienfait Legion.
Photo courtesy Ingrid Beahm, Jan 2013
Robert's Revellers were in the back row ready to perform.
Veteran Cemetery
Early in its history, the Branch purchased a large plot of ground
in the
Bienfait Cemetery and Ernie Philip,
with the help of the members established the
present Soldiers' Plot
at which annually the Decoration Day services have been
held.
The Branch owns a cottage which was erected by volunteer help
from the members
and other people
of the community for the widow of Robert Ellis,
who died
suddenly at his work.
As money became available, improvements were made
on the Legion Hall inside and
out.
Since the start of the late war, the Flag has flown continually
from the Legion
Hall and an honour roll inscribed by Wing Wong Jr.
has been continually lit by
neon lighting in the front window of the hall.
At all times, the services of the secretary has been available
to ex-servicemen
and their dependants, and during the war,
of course, to dependants of those
serving.
The Branch had the honour of having among its members
the oldest Legionnaire in
the province in the person of Arthur Nelson,
a Riel rebellion veteran who was
acclaimed as such
at a provincial convention in Saskatoon prior to his death.
The Branch took active part in post-war rehabilitation.
The Branch welcomes all
veterans within its ranks
and prices itself upon conducting all its activities
in a truly Democratic way.
In addition to its social functions it is true the
local ex-servicemen's parliament
and lives up as closely as possible to those
aims
and objectives laid down in the Constitution, which in the main are
service,
not for self but for those less fortunate,
and fostering of loyalty to
Queen and Country
and the kindly ties of comradeship among those
who have given
a common service.
The Auxiliary was formed in May 1932
The first Vimy night event was held in 1932.
The Cairn in the front lawn was made
from rock
from the Taylorton Store.
War Veteran
Quilt, now in Bienfait Legion l/r-
Irene Pastachuk, Lorne Frank, and Ron Frank
This quilt was presented to the Bienfait Legion Auxiliary
It was won by J.C. Frank (Lorne & Ron's Father) in 1968.
It had been in the Frank Family since then.
They returned it to Bienfait in July 2000.
It will be on display at the Bienfait Museum first, then the Bienfait Legion.
The quilt was dedicated to War Veterans and their families in the Bienfait Area. |