A little piece of the Battle of Vimy Ridge will now grow into mighty oak trees in Centre Wellington, Erin and Arthur.
The Fergus Elora Rotary Club, as well as Legions in Fergus, Elora, Arthur and Erin, are planting “Vimy oaks” in various places as a way to remember how the First World War battle shaped the county.
Canada was just shy of the 50th anniversary of confederation when the battle erupted on Vimy Ridge in northern France on April 9, 1917. About 3,600 soldiers lost their lives during the battle, which decimated the landscape.
The Vimy Foundation tells the story of Lieutenant Leslie Miller of Scarborough who, after the battle, gathered a handful of acorns from a partially buried English oak on the ridge and sent them home to his family.
The acorns were planted and grew on his farm “The Vimy Oaks.”
The oak trees are still thriving on the same lot now under the care of the Scarborough Chinese Baptist Church. However, no original oaks grow on Vimy Ridge.
In 2014, a group of volunteers, the Vimy Oaks Legacy Corporation, in partnership with the Vimy Foundation, decided to grow descendant
oaks to be planted at the 1.8-hectare Centennial Park adjacent to the Canadian National Vimy Memorial site in France.
The trees are being planted this year to mark the 100th anniversary of the Battle of Vimy Ridge.
The group is also distributing commemorative “Vimy oak” saplings across Canada, eight of which will be planted in Centre Wellington.
The Arthur Legion planted its “Vimy oaks” at the cenotaph with help from Arthur’s historical and horticultural societies. Mayor Andy Lennox and Second World War veteran John Walsh planted the trees on July 1.
The Erin Legion is still determining where to plant its oak tree sapling.
Fergus Elora Rotarian Jim Gibbons heard about the trees through family. He has a personal connection to the First World War so he wanted to get involved.
“We lost 3,600 soldiers – volunteers, they weren’t drafted,” Gibbons said.
“They volunteered to go over and fight; it was the first big battle that Canadians won.”
Gibbons’ uncle David Allan Robertson fought at Vimy Ridge and later died at the age of 26 in Belgium, mere months prior to the end of the war.
“I thought it was great for our community to recognize (the sacrifice),” he said.
Two of the three Fergus-Elora Rotary Club oak trees were planted in Victoria Park in Fergus. The third tree was planted at the Fergus cenotaph.
Gibbons is hoping to install plaques near the trees so that anyone can read the story as the saplings grow.
Two oaks were planted at the Salem cenotaph and two on the grounds of the county museum in Aboyne.
The Fergus Legion is holding a dedication for the trees on Sept. 22.
Jim Dixon, veteran services manager for the Fergus Legion, said it was important for the Legion to be involved.
“That was the start of Canada really, was Vimy Ridge,” Dixon said.
Ken Engleby, president of the Arthur Legion, said officials there wanted to be a part of the larger legacy because Arthur is known as the most patriotic village in Canada – and to remember the Battle of Vimy Ridge.
“They put themselves on the line for what we have today,” he said. “I think its just a great honour to be a part of that.”
There are plaques in front of the trees at the Arthur cenotaph to explain the significance of the trees.
