MEMORIAL TABLET UNVEILED AT VONDA
BY THE BISHOP OF SASKATCHEWAN DIOCESE.
DAUGHTERS OF EMPIRE, TORONTO CHAPTERS, PROVIDE BRASS TABLET.

Address Delivered Which Recalled Events of the Rebellion and the Brave Deeds of Those Whose Valor Restored Peace

Inscription on the Tablet of the Names of the Slain.

Special to the Phoenix.

Vonda, Sask., May 11 - The anniversary of the battle of Batoche was celebrated here to-day by the unveiling of a brass tablet in memory of the men who fell at Duck Lake, Fish Creek, Batoche, Cut Knife and Fort Pitt during the rebellion of 1885.

The tablet was presented by the Daughters of the Empire, Toronto, to the congregation of St. Paul’s Church, Anglican, here, and the solemn services of unveiling were very impressively conducted by the Lord Bishop of Saskatchewan, assisted by the Rev. Mr. Coulthurst of Vonda.

The bishop briefly outlined the main features of the rebellion two battles of which, Fish Creek and Batoche, were fought a short distance north of Vonda.

The Daughters of the Empire of Saskatoon were represented by Mrs. Straton and Mrs. Morgan.

May 11, 1885, was a momentous day in the Canadian history. May 11, 1911, saw the unveiling of a handsome brass tablet which three months ago was placed in St. Paul’s Mission church, Vonda, a memorial to the Canadian soldiers who fell in the engagements which took place in 1885 at Duck Lake, Fish Creek, Batoche, Cutknife and Fort Pitt. This tablet and its companion tablet has been placed in a Battleford church, were presented by the Toronto military chapters of the Imperial Order Daughters of the Empire, the chapters being the Royal Grenadiers, the 48th Highlanders, and Queen’s Own Rifles.

The unveiling at Vonda was performed by Bishop Newnham, at a memorial service held on Thursday afternoon at 4 o’clock in St. Paul’s Church. Rev. H. Colthurst, incumbent of the church, assisted with the service.

In the bishop’s address, given at the request of the Saskatoon and Toronto chapters of the Daughters of the Empire, he sketched briefly the history of the rebellion and paid high tribute to the heroes who fought at the various points which one never yet speaks of without associating with those troublous times. Bishop Newnham stated that he had been keenly interested in the activities and had offered to accompany as chaplain one of the troops from Montreal. But a Roman Catholic chaplain was in demand for the first troop to leave that city. A Presbyterian chaplain was in demand for the first troop to leave that city. A Presbyterian chaplain was next chosen, and when it fell his turn to come, the rebellion had ended.

The bishop regretted that it was impossible for Rev. Principal Lloyd to be present at this memorial service, more particularly because he had seen active service in the Cutknife engagement, and had indeed received a wound there which narrowly escaped proving a mortal one.

“Peace, perfect peace”, was one of the hymns chosen for the service, and at the conclusion the national anthem was sung. Regrets were expressed on all sides that the King’s uniform was not in evidence. It had been hoped to give a military touch to the occasion, but the recent rains and incidental bad roads prevented the attendance of R. N. W. M. P. and Saskatoon militia officers who otherwise would have attended.

Mrs. Jas. Straton, regent of the Golden West chapter, I.O.D.E. and Mrs. R.R. Morgan, secretary of the same chapter, were present from Saskatoon, and were made the guests of honor.

No undertaking with which the Golden West Daughters have been associated seemed more redolent of imperial significance than this, the perpetuating of the names of the soldiers, whose lives were given in the promoting of national unity. The kindest hospitality was shown them. In the evening they, together with Bishop Newnham, were entertained at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Blackburn. From conversations with the public-spirited citizens of Vonda Mrs. Straton and Mrs. Morgan learn that they are very eager that a national park will be set aside at Batoche as a further memorial to the soldiers.

The tablets erected in Vonda and Battleford are four feet by three feet in dimension. A crown surmounts stacked rifles and beneath are engraved the names of the following men who fell in that campaign:

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