For Immediate Release
November 5, 2024

COMING TOGETHER TO HONOUR VETERANS IN OCEAN FALLS

In July 2023, Paul Dexter, Chief Steward on the Northern Sea Wolf, reached out to the Last Post Fund (LPF) in Montreal, hoping to support a veteran’s initiative in Ocean Falls on the Central Coast where the vessel provides service. Paul and the crew on board wanted to help honour veterans laid to rest in Ocean Falls. LPF connected Paul with Ted Usher, President of the B.C. Branch of the LPF, a dedicated volunteer researcher for LPF’s Unmarked Grave Program based in Courtenay, B.C. Ted was already conducting research on the Ocean Falls Cemetery, searching for veterans who might be laying in unmarked graves.

Ted had identified several veterans who had served with the Canadian Expeditionary Force during WWI. However, he needed someone local to help validate his research, so he provided Paul and Jamie Neil, a Third Engineer on the Northern Sea Wolf, with a map and a list of names. In August 2023, while the Northern Sea Wolf was docked in Ocean Falls, Paul and Jamie visited the cemetery and found four WWI veterans with headstones that had become illegible due to years of exposure to rain and salt air.

Paul learned from Ted about the Last Post Fund’s application process for new headstones, but it became clear that replacing the headstones could take up to two years due to the volume of work underway through the program. Determined to honour the veterans without delay (and before they may be retired), Paul and Jamie forged a plan with Ted to fundraise for the purchase and installation of new headstones.

Together, they organized a raffle, offering prizes that showcased BC’s natural beauty and community spirit: a trip with BC Ferries through the Inside Passage with a two-night stay in Port Hardy, a fishing charter in Ladysmith, a beautiful framed print, and a two-night stay at the Old Bank Inn in Ocean Falls with a $100 BC Ferries gift card. The raffle was a huge success — tickets sold out quickly, with support from Ocean Falls residents, BC Ferries staff, and people throughout the province. The Cumberland and Comox Royal Canadian Legion Branches also pitched in, allowing Paul and Jamie to sell tickets at their weekly meat draws. By late May 2024, all 2,500 tickets had been sold.

Ted then connected with Mortimer’s Monumental Works Ltd. in Victoria, who agreed to provide the four new headstones at the Last Post Fund’s wholesale price. Paul connected with Amber Finch, Corporate Officer of the Ocean Falls Improvement District, which is responsible for the cemetery. Amber was thrilled to hear about the initiative and offered support with the coordination of the installation of the new headstones and a dedication ceremony.

The headstones were transported to Ocean Falls on board the Northern Sea Wolf and on the morning of September 16, 2024, a ceremony was held at the cemetery to honour the four veterans. Ron Richards from the Bella Coola Legion delivered a dedication, as crew from the Northern Sea Wolf and members of the community gathered to pay their respects and honour the fallen.

The entire effort was for four Canadian Veterans who served with the Canadian Expeditionary Force during WWI:

Pte. Oscar Breault (1895-1922), 1st Depot Bn, BCR

Pte. William Robert Bruce (1884-1934), 102nd Bn

Pte. Donald Alexander Robinson (1896-1943), 2nd Bn CMGC

Pte. William Hawthorne (1888-1944), 152nd Bn

We will remember them.

We extend our heartfelt thanks to everyone involved in this initiative. Your dedication, support, and generosity have made it possible to honour these veterans and uphold their legacy for future generations.