Photo by
Lemonte Squibb.
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Royal Canadian Legion
Memorial Park, Channel Port aux Basques,
Newfoundland
The Royal Canadian Legion, Channel, Branch
#11, Memorial Park, was dedicated on July
6th, 1986. The Memorial consists of a
monument to the victims of the S.S.
Caribou, and a monument each for the
casualties of the two World Wars.
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| On July 1st, 1929, the HMS Capetown
visited Port aux Basques for the official
unveiling and dedication of the World War I
monument, which was situated near the Court House
in town. This monument contains all of the names
of those from Port aux Basques who paid the
supreme sacrifice in World War I.
The S.S. Caribou was the link between Nova
Scotia and Newfoundland, and a very well-known
ship. She was torpedoed on October 14, 1942, with
a loss of 137 lives. This tragedy left 21 widows
and 51 fatherless children. Three of the crew
members were unmarried. Twenty-five of the crew
members lived in Channel-Port aux Basques. The
Railway Employees' Association decided to erect a
monument in memory of the S.S. Caribou and this
was done through a public subscription and the
Railway Workers donating a full day's work towards
the cost of this monument. On October 14 of each
year, a memorial service was held at the Caribou
monument. Over time, the site was found to be
unsuitable for the annual memorial service so the
monument was moved to the C.N. Marine premises
and the original shape of the monument was
changed to resemble an open book.
Photo by Lemonte Squibb.
Over the years it became evident that a new site
would be needed for the World War I monument.
When a new site was being chosen, there was a
proposal to have a monument installed in the
memory of those who gave their lives in World War
II. It was then suggested that permission be
sought to have the Caribou Monument included so
that the three monuments would be on the same site.
Permission was granted by the C.N. Marine and the
old site was demolished. It was decided to have a
whole new monument in memory of the S.S. Caribou.
All that remains of the original monument are the
four bronze plates which contain the names of the
137 people who lost their lives. The World War II
monument is an exact replica of the World War I
monument and all three now stand in Memorial
Park, along with three flag poles and two anchors of
former C.N. Marine ships, the S.S. Patrick Morris
and the M/V William Carson, both of which are now
gone. Memorial Park was officially dedicated on
July 6th, 1986.
November 11th is the day of remembrance, and the
memorial service for the sinking of the caribou
has been combined with the usual November 11th
memorial service.
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