Central Vancouver Island Vets'
Grave Location and Maintenance Program
Dear Joe,
Central Vancouver Island Vets' are just getting underway with our Grave Location project. We have broken down our area into three zones and we are in the initial phase of determining just whose graves may be in the area.
Last week, I checked the names of thirty one members who we know have passed away in Nanaimo against the Cemetery records and we were able to identify the grave sites of only four of them. Our next step will be to check with several Funeral Homes in the city against our list of names.
At a recent Vets' meeting, I obtained some information about four more Vets who passed away in Port Alberni. All four members had been cremated - one had his ashes scattered over Gabriola Island, one had his ashes scattered at sea, one had his ashes scattered over his garden and only one was in the Port Alberni Cemetery and is identified with a marker. There are no headstones or markers in the cremation cases.
I have not visited any of the graves sites and I'll begin actual ‘inspections’ in March or April. Len Jerritt is working the area from Bowser to the top of Vancouver Island; Debbie Smith and I will be covering the area from Bowser to Ladysmith; Tom Earl will be handling the area from Ladysmith to Mill Bay. I'll check on Len's progress but Tom is currently in Arizona and not due back until spring.
At our meeting, I asked our Vets to provide me with any information they had on deceased members of the Force, in our area. I expect to pick up a few more leads on members who have passed away. From what I’ve been able to gather, burials are often done at the veteran’s home cemetery or at 'Depot'.
As our work progresses we will be providing you with the specific location and photographs of each grave site.
As I mentioned, we are just in the initial stages of our project and I expect it will be a fairly lengthy process to locate all the graves sites. We will try to provide you information on a timely basis.
Regards,
Laurie Jamont
Central Van. Island Secretary/Treasurer
This note rec'd on 06/10/2011
Joe,
I'm a retired member and recently found your site. I think it is a wonderful thing you have done to honour those that have gone before us.
I was wondering if I might be of any assistance to you in any way ie: Photo's of graves here on Vancouver Island. I have lost a number of friends both in the line of duty and from natural cause and I would like to see their information posted on your website if they haven't already or more information to be provided.
Please let me know if I can be of assistance.
Mike (Spanky) Galbraith
Road Captain
Pacific Coast Blue Knights
Chapter VIII
Victoria, BC
Reply
Hi Mike,
First, I’m sorry for the delay, but I receive so many e-mails each day that I tak’em as they come in.
Thanks very much for your offer, and yes, I’d appreciate any help you might give me. If you go to my Home Page, scroll down to ‘Vets Corner’, you’ll see that Laurie Jamont had written to me about also helping from your neck of the woods. You might want to give Laurie a call so that you don’t duplicate whatever he’s doing.
Write to me anytime...but I’m sorry for this delay...as you can tell I’m a few weeks behind. Thanks also for your kind remarks.
Yours truly,
Joe
Reg.#23685
Ottawa
This note rec'd on 20/01/2012
Joe;
Thanks for your email. I've been busy so haven't spent alot of time lately on the project but I did manage to find a bunch and actually clean a number of headstones that were in bad shape. Even found a couple that have no headstones. I forwarded a request to the "E" Div. S/M who has been in touch with the CO and it looks good to get deceased Supt. Tucker and S/M Davis headstones who were members of the NWMP.
I have even made contact with family of A/Comm'r McIllree who was responsible for covering C/M Davis's funeral expenses out of his own pocket. I have also been approached by the Old Cemetary Society of Victoria to put together a 2 hour walking tour of Ross Bay Cemetary with focus on members of the Force buried in RBC.
So my project has grown considerbly since I last sent you a message.
The Central Island members name is a 1.5 hour drive from where I live in Victoria but I will try and make contact with him.
Mike (Spanky) Galbraith
Road Captain
Pacific Coast Blue Knights
Chapter VIII
Victoria, BC
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