Oct 22, 2025: Building a Cenotaph for the Fallen
October 22 @ 7:00 pm - 9:30 pm
Oct 22, 2025 at 7:00 p.m. Hybrid: zoom and at the Archives
Dutton Dunwich has never had a cenotaph. Thirty-two First World War and fourteen Second World War sons and husbands died. One of the WWI fallen is Ellis Wellwood Sifton, a young fellow who fought at Vimy Ridge and was honoured with a Victoria Cross.
This did not sit right with Blair Ferguson and he mustered a group to right this wrong. Blair and friends designed and raised the money to build a cenotaph worthy of the soldiers’ incredible deeds of heroism. It’s hard for us to imagine now how so many young fellows could be sent off to such terrible wars.
Blair Ferguson is a well known local historian, especially in military matters. He has written a couple of books and contributed to many more. Canadian author Ted Barris has sought out Blair’s expertise of Vimy hero Ellis Sifton for his best selling book Victory at Vimy. Blair has done 3 or 4 podcasts for the Backus Page Museum. He is a regular guest speaker at various high schools throughout the area, and always eager to learn and expand his knowledge