One street, three great men
West End plaza forever marks bravery in war
Sun Nov 6 2005
By Aldo Santin
THE heroic efforts of three young First World War veterans were recognized yesterday in a dedication ceremony of a commemorative plaza in the West End.
The new plaza at the corner of Sargent Avenue and Valour Road marks the contributions of Cpl. Leo Clark, Sgt.-Major Frederick Hall and Lt. Robert Shankland -- each awarded the Victoria Cross, the British Commonwealth's highest award for gallantry in battle.
It's believed to be the only time that the military honour has been given to three men who lived on the same street.
The trio was affectionately referred to as the "Pine Street boys." In honour of their sacrifice and courage, the City of Winnipeg renamed Pine Street as Valour Road.
"As we approach Remembrance Day, the important role these three young men played in our country's history should be forever etched in our memory," Andrew Swan, the area MLA, said during the ceremony. "This new plaza ensures that the sacrifice paid by these brave soldiers and other Canadian military will live forever." About 50 people attended the morning ceremony, including members of Leo Clark's family.
"This is a physical representation of their contributions," Paul Clark, the great-nephew of Leo Clark, said following the ceremony. "There were a lot of boys that went over there and a lot that didn't come back. We need to remember those guys as well."
The three men had lived on the same block of Pine Street before they signed up for military service.
Over an 18-month period from 1915 to 1917, the men's actions in battle resulted in each of them being awarded the Victoria Cross.
Clark and Hall died in action. Shankland, who also served in the Second World War and retired with the rank of lieutenant-colonel, died in 1968.
The new plaza was constructed five blocks north of where the three men lived. The plaza was designed by local landscape architect David Wagner, who was at yesterday's ceremony, and features Tyndall Stone monuments in the shape of the Victoria Cross.
The plaza is adjacent to a redesigned transit loop at Valour and Sargent. In the centre of the loop, Tyndall Stone blocks have been placed that will support a steel sculpture that portrays the silhouette of three soldiers in No Man's Land.
The plaza project was funded by the city and the province, but Coun. Harvey Smith said it was area residents who decided to use the funds to construct the tribute plaza.
"It's amazing to realize that 90 years after their heroic efforts, these three young men are still in our minds," Smith said. "This neighbourhood remembers these men even without a plaza." The ceremony began with Clark's great-niece, Jennifer Clark, singing O Canada. Jennifer and Paul Clark's grandfather, Charlie Clark, was Leo Clark's brother and the two men served in the same regiment.
"This makes our family proud," Leo Clark, Jennifer and Paul's father and the namesake of the war hero, said. "Leo was buried by the shelling that day and it was my father that dug him out. Leo was sent to hospital and my father never saw him again."
The ceremony included the readings of citations that detailed the three men's heroic actions. Paul Clark read his great-uncle's citation. Shankland's citation was read by Lieut.-Colonel Cameron Buchanan, the commanding officer of The Queen's Own Cameron Highlanders, the same unit to which Shankland belonged. Hall's citation was read by Lieut.-Colonel Tim McManus, the commanding officer of the Royal Winnipeg Rifles, which Hall had signed up with.
Paul Clark said his family used to mark Remembrance Day with a small ceremony at the corner of Portage Avenue and Valour Road but that annual ceremonies will now occur at the plaza, a more respectful setting for the day's event.
aldo.santin@freepress.mb.ca
