Historical Background Information

Erected at the edge of Riverside Park about 1912, Sir Sam Hughes Armouries was built by Robert Beggs of Hallville and possibly designed by David Ewart. It is very similar in design to armouries in other Canadian towns. In the fall of 1919, the Kemptville Branch of the Great War Veterans Association was formed and they were allowed to hold their weekly meetings here. There was a firing range in the basement where the high school cadets had rifle practice and the hall was sometimes used for dances.

In 1968, the Fire Hall was moved here from the Town Hall and the building was renovated to accommodate the trucks. It remained a Fire Hall until 2009.

A historical information plaque was erected at this site by the Municipality of North Grenville and it is located to the right of the hall entrance on the south east side of the building.

Source: Municipality of North Grenville Walking Tours / Dr. David Shanahan.

Note:
This building is currently used by the Navy League of Canada as a base and training facility for the 338 Defiant Royal Canadian Sea Cadets Corps and the Assiniboine Navy League Cadets Corps.

About Private Blake Neil Williamson

Photo: Canadian Forces Image GalleryNamesake: Private Blake Neil Williamson age 23 years
Canadian Armed Forces
Royal Canadian Regiment 1^st Battalion Charles Company

Private Williamson was a former resident of North Grenville who was killed by shrapnel from a rocket-propelled grenade attack on October 14, 2006 while serving with the Canadian Armed Forces in the Panjwa’i District of Southern Kandahar, Afghanistan. Following his death he was honoured on several occasions by this community as indicated below:

A “Wreath Laying Ceremony” in Williamson’s honour was held on Friday, October 20, 2006 in the Kemptville Armoury and was attended by his family, friends and members of the community. During the Memorial Service, remembrance tributes were offered by Leeds-Grenville MP Gord Brown, Leeds-Grenville MPP Bob Runciman and North Grenville Mayor William G. Gooch.

In late 2006, Mayor Gooch suggested that the Municipality have Williamson’s name inscribed on the Kemptville Cenotaph in conjunction with a joint funding restoration application that local resident Roy Brown had filed with the Veterans Affairs Canada Cenotaph/Monument Restoration Program. The application was approved by Veterans Affairs Canada and financially supported with joint funding from that agency and the Royal Canadian Legion Kemptville Branch #212 Poppy Trust Fund. The Municipality, as promised, provided funding to cover the expense of adding Williamson’s name to the back panel of the base of the statue.

It should be noted that the Williamson inscription was the first name to be added to the Kemptville Cenotaph since the Second World War.

The restorative work and addition of Williamson’s name was completed in the Spring of 2007 well in advance of the Kemptville Cenotaph Rededication Ceremony scheduled for Saturday June 16 2007. Williamson’s officers Padre and fellow soldiers of the Royal Canadian Regiment 1st Battalion Charles Company were in attendance.

During the ceremony, Williamson’s mother, Heather Anderson-Benedict, stepped forward and presented a framed portrait of her son to the Royal Canadian Legion Kemptville Branch #212 on behalf of the family members. The portrait is displayed in the Upper Hall of the Legion building and Williamson is the only member of the military who died in battle that is honoured in this manner by Branch #212.

On April 17, 2016, the Municipal Clerk's Office received correspondence from Councillor Donovan Arnaud requesting that consideration be given to naming the Armoury Building after Private Williamson. Municipal Council reviewed and discussed his request which met the conditions and intent of By-Law 72-12, a By-Law to Establish a Naming Rights Policy. At the Regular Council Meeting of July 25, 2016 Council voted unanimously in favour of naming the Armoury Building in memory of Private Blake Neil Williamson with the passage of the following Resolution:

Resolution C-2016-096 - 'That the Armoury Building located at 25 Reuben Crescent in Kemptville be named 'The Pte. Blake Williamson Memorial Hall.'

On Remembrance Day, Friday, November 11, 2016 a formal Dedication Ceremony for the renaming of the Armoury Building was hosted by the Municipality of North Grenville, presided over by members of Williamson's former regiment. A dedication plaque located to the left of the hall entrance on the south east side of the building was unveiled by North Grenville Mayor David Gordon and Major-General Omer Lavoie Commanding Officer of the 1st Canadian Division (Williamson’s former commanding officer) on that date.

Source: Courtesy of Roy Brown.