The War Memorial at Branch is located on the grounds of Holy Rosary Roman Catholic Church. It features an inscribed, grey granite monument approximately three metres high. The municipal heritage designation includes the monument, and the area encompassing the footprint of the monument plus three metres in each direction out from the monument.
Formal Recognition Type
Municipal Heritage Building, Structure or Land
Heritage Value
The War Memorial has been designated a municipal heritage site by the Town of Branch because of its historic, social and aesthetic values.
The War Memorial has historic value because its inscriptions record the names and sometimes military divisions of local men who volunteered for military and support services in World Wars I and II. Part of its inscription reads: “Erected by the people of this community in grateful remembrance of those who paid the supreme sacrifice in the two Great Wars and to honour all others who served so valiantly in the cause of freedom.” The names inscribed in granite are of those who lost their lives during war, while others who served are listed on a bronze plaque.
The War Memorial has social value because it was erected in 1980 as a community effort, and the monument is the focal point for Branch’s annual Remembrance Day ceremonies.
The War Memorial has aesthetic value because of its prominent placement on the grounds of Holy Rosary Roman Catholic Church, and because of its appearance. It is comprised of a slab of grey granite bearing on its façade the inscribed caribou emblem of the historic Newfoundland Regiment, inscribed text, and a bronze plaque. These materials and design make it readily identifiable as a war monument.
Source: Town of Branch Regular Council Meeting November 24, 2008.
Character Defining Elements
Those elements which contribute to the site’s historic and aesthetic values including:
-churchyard location;
-design, dimensions and materials of the monument;
-inscribed text and symbols on the monument;
-and the bronze plaque affixed to the monument.
Notes
The following is inscribed on the granite war memorial:
“Erected by the people of Branch in Grateful Remembrance of those who paid The Supreme Sacrifice in the Two Great Wars and to honour all others who served so valiantly in the course of freedom.
World War I
Joseph McGrath, Royal Nfld Regiment
World War II
Berthram Nash, Royal Artillery
Austin McGrath, Royal Navy
Milton McGrath, Royal Navy
Aloysius Nash, Royal Navy
Osbourne Power, Royal Navy
Francis Roche, Royal Navy
Joseph Roche, Royal Navy”
The bronze plaque reads:
“They also served
World War I
Alphonsus Corcoran Andrew Leonard George McGrath Albert Nash Austin Nash George Nash Patrick Nash Stephen Nash Walter J. Nash Albert Power Austin Power Bartley Power Edmund Power Fred Power Jack Power Allan Roche Charles Roche Patrick Roche Peter Roche
World War II
Austin Campbell Jim Campbell Pius Coffey Dave English Gerald Nash Leonard Nash Raymond Nash Bartley O’Rourke John O’Rourke Micheal O’Rourke Cyril Power Herbert Power John Power Leo Power Nicholas Power Leo Roche
Support Services
Edmund Collins Nicholas Hennessey Joseph Mooney Douglas Nash Edward Nash Henry Nash James W. Nash Arthur Power John F. Roche Ronald Roche”
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