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1933-1995 (Creation)
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30 cm of textual records 54 photographs
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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.
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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
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Donated by Bill Corfield, director of Vimy branch’s Executive Committee, in July 1991.
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No restrictions on access.
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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).