Fonds AFC 137 - Royal Canadian Legion, Vimy Branch #145 fonds

Title and statement of responsibility area

Title proper

Royal Canadian Legion, Vimy Branch #145 fonds

General material designation

    Parallel title

    Other title information

    Title statements of responsibility

    Title notes

    Level of description

    Fonds

    Reference code

    CA ON00353 AFC 137

    Edition area

    Edition statement

    Edition statement of responsibility

    Class of material specific details area

    Statement of scale (cartographic)

    Statement of projection (cartographic)

    Statement of coordinates (cartographic)

    Statement of scale (architectural)

    Issuing jurisdiction and denomination (philatelic)

    Dates of creation area

    Date(s)

    • 1933-1995 (Creation)

    Physical description area

    Physical description

    30 cm of textual records 54 photographs

    Publisher's series area

    Title proper of publisher's series

    Parallel titles of publisher's series

    Other title information of publisher's series

    Statement of responsibility relating to publisher's series

    Numbering within publisher's series

    Note on publisher's series

    Archival description area

    Name of creator

    Administrative history

    During and after the First World War, a number of disparate veterans’ organizations emerged in Canada acting as voices for returning troops and their families. Attempts at unity to strengthen the voice of veterans resulted in the founding of the Dominion Veterans Alliance in 1925. One of the groups who joined the Dominion Veterans Alliance was the Canadian Legion of the British Empire Service League, formed in Winnipeg in November, 1925. Initially, the Legion had three roles: to care of the war disabled, the dependent and the needy; to keep alive public memory of the sacrifices of Canadians in the cause of world peace; and to promote unity of the nation and development of a greater national consciousness. This mandate grew in time to include many community service projects. The administrative structure of the Royal Canadian Legion is hierarchical and is divided into Commands, districts, zones and branches. At the national level is the Dominion Command, subdivided into the Provincial Commands. The Ontario Command is divided into nine administrative districts, each in turn divided into zones. The most important and most visible element of the Legion structure is the branch. Each branch belongs to a zone, a district and a command. The London Great War Veterans Association joined the Canadian Legion and became Branch Number 2. The London branch of the Legion experienced inner turmoil as differences of opinion grew between ex-officer members and other ranks; in 1928, Branch Number 2 was dismantled. Several local veterans were still interested in Legion membership; after several meetings, the name Vimy was chosen for a new branch. Vimy Branch #145 was chartered in March, 1929 by the Dominion Command of the Canadian Legion. The branch holds its meeting twice a year in the form of a dinner on dates which coincide as closely as possible with the anniversaries of the Armistice and the Battle of Vimy Ridge. It has no fixed headquarters. Originally, the branch had between 30 and 40 members; since the Second World War, its membership has remained at about 160. A number of London’s prominent veterans such as Ibbotson Leonard, D. B. Weldon, and Tom Lawson have been members of the branch. In the 1930s, Vimy Orchestra was formed. It performed at the twice-yearly meetings as well as some other occasions. The branch takes part in the annual poppy campaign and the Remembrance Day parade. In 1956, Vimy Branch and London’s Roosevelt Branch founded the Canadian Legion Memorial Boys Club - London, renamed the Legion Memorial Boys and Girls Club in 1971 and the Boys and Girls Club of London in 2000. The branch donates money to the club annually, helping to make the Boys and Girls Club of London a thriving local community centre.

    Name of creator

    Administrative history

    Custodial history

    Scope and content

    This fonds contains records created and collected by the Royal Canadian Legion, Vimy Branch #145 of London, Ontario. Minutes of meetings, correspondence, financial documents, souvenirs, and photographs are included. Fonds is comprised of the following series: Minutes of meetings Ontario provincial command documents Dominion command documents Membership documents Dues correspondence Annual financial reports and other documents Dinner meeting programmes and other documents Community involvement documents Special events souvenirs History project documents Photographs

    Notes area

    Physical condition

    Immediate source of acquisition

    Donated by Bill Corfield, director of Vimy branch’s Executive Committee, in July 1991.

    Arrangement

    Language of material

      Script of material

        Location of originals

        Availability of other formats

        Restrictions on access

        No restrictions on access.

        Terms governing use, reproduction, and publication

        Associated materials

        Vimy branch’s 1983 history book, “Friends and comrades: a history of the branch and its pursuits,” is available in the University of Western Ontario Archives’ reading room (call number U57.C3R68 1983).

        Related materials

        Accruals

        Alternative identifier(s)

        Standard number

        Standard number

        Access points

        Subject access points

        Place access points

        Name access points

        Genre access points

        Control area

        Description record identifier

        Institution identifier

        Rules or conventions

        Status

        Level of detail

        Dates of creation, revision and deletion

        Language of description

          Script of description

            Sources

            Accession area