. 'Loss needs no learning and sorrow needs no schoolmaster' Rev. Murray McBride at Chapleau Remembrance Day 1961

Impressive Remembrance Day services at the Town Hall and cenotaph following a parade of Branch Number 5 (Ontario) Royal Canadian Legion members was held in 1961, according to a Sudbury Star report.

The Star noted that the turnout of Legion members was "higher than for some years and made a fine showing as they marched in step to music from the town band."

The Town Band was a feature at pretty well all community activities from about 1888 on when it was formed. I have included a photo circa 1922 of the band in front of the first cenotaph built after end of World War I.

After the invocation was given by Rev. J.G. M. Doolan of St. John's Anglican Church, Rev. Murray McBride of Trinity United Church delivered an address entitled 'The New War' which in many respects we find ourselves today in 2017.

Mr. McBride noted that there is "little left to be said for those left behind" as a result of war "for loss needs no learning and sorrow needs no schoolmaster."




As I was researching this column and read the above statement by Mr. McBride, I recalled a comment my mother, Muriel E. (Hunt) Morris made about Remembrance Day. I don't think she ever missed a Remembrance Day service but commented, "Every day is Remembrance Day". As most readers know, her husband, my father, Flying Officer Jim Morris was killed on active service in the RCAF during World War II.

Mr. McBride presented the argument that war and peace can not be separated in our thinking. He proceeded to outline his thinking on 'The New War'.

He said that over a span of 4000 years, the first wars were nomadic tribal wars in nature characterized by invasion, looting, pillaging and slaughter for immediate gain. These were followed by wars for territorial gain as well where the conqueror took over land an settled there.

Then World War I and World War II were wars for intangibles "for principles of freedom and liberty" as well.

He suggested that the new war is vastly different. It is "a war with an  unseen enemy which can occur without advance warning by an aggressor sitting at home and exploding bombs in his own country and count on fallout to weaken those he wishes to conquer  or destroy."

Given our deeply troubled world today with acts of terrorism globally, it seems like Mr. McBride had a crystal ball back in 1961.

In conclusion he suggested that society had "turned away from God" thus causing alienation and causing fear and mistrust in society. "It is this that would seem to have made us so ready to use discoveries for destruction rather than building a better world".

In 1968, Mr. McBride was elected as a Liberal Member of Parliament and served one term.

At eleven a.m. the ceremony had moved to the cenotaph beside the Town Hall where the two minutes silence was observed and the Last Post and Reveille was played by William Forman.

Later at the Legion Hall, branch president Herb Doig presented Life Memberships to L.T. 'Len' Green and George Collinson, who were both World War I veterans.

The Ladies Auxiliary tea was also held presided over by president Mrs. Agnes Freeborn.

Lest we forget there were 32 Chapleau boys who died in World War I and 29 in World War II. One died during the Korean War and another while serving with a United Nations Emergency Force in the Middle East with NATO. My email is mj.morris@live.ca

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MM