Leonard and Davidson Memorial

This memorial was erected by the people of the City of Woodstock and the County of Oxford. This monument was erected in memory of Oxford Rifles members who enlisted and took part in the South African Boer War (1899 – 1902). Colour Sergeant G. W. Leonard fell in battle in May 1901, while Corporal M. Davidson died of enteric fever in May 1902, while serving with the South African Constabulary. The monument bust of Colour Sergeant Leonard stands before the Court House, but was erected in memory of both men, and was unveiled on May 24, 1904. The two cannons on the Court House lawn are over one hundred and fifty years old. Requested by County Council and through the efforts of Hon. James Sutherland, the then federal member of Parliament for Oxford, they were obtained and erected in September, 1900. Dates of 1842 and 1843 are inscribed on the barrels of these muzzle-loading cannons.

Inscription

[Front/devant]

COLOUR-SERGEANT GEORGE W. LEONARD
22ND. REG. (THE OXFORD RIFLES)
A PRIVATE IN THE 2ND. (S.S.) BATT.
R.C.R. WHO DIED MAY 11TH OF WOUNDS
RECEIVED AT ZAND RIVER, SOUTH AFRICA
ON MAY 10TH 1901.

THIS MEMORIAL WAS ERECTED BY THE
PEOPLE OF THE CITY OF WOODSTOCK
AND THE COUNTY OF OXFORD.

[Back/arrière]

CORPORAL MYRTLE DAVIDSON
SOUTH AFRICAN CONSTABULARY
A FORMER MEMBER OF THE 22ND. REG.
(THE OXFORD RIFLES) DIED OF ENTERIC
FEVER IN SOUTH AFRICA ON THE 9TH
DAY OF FEB. 1902.

THIS INSCRIPTION IS ENGRAVED TO
COMMEMORATE HIS SERVICES TO HIS
COUNTRY.

Ce mémorial a été érigé par les habitants de la ville de Woodstock et du comté d’Oxford. Il honore la mémoire des membres de l’Oxford Rifles qui se sont enrôlés pour participer à la guerre des Boers, en Afrique du Sud (1899-1902). Le sergent-chef G.W. Leonard est tombé au combat en mai 1901, tandis que le caporal M. Davidson est décédé de la fièvre typhoïde en mai 1902; il faisait alors partie de la force constabulaire d’Afrique du Sud. Le buste érigé devant le palais de justice représente le sergent-chef Leonard, mais le monument est dédié aux deux hommes. Il a été inauguré le 24 mai 1904. Les deux canons posés sur la pelouse du palais de justice ont plus de 150 ans. Obtenus à la demande du conseil municipal et grâce aux efforts de l’honorable James Sutherland, alors député fédéral d’Oxford, ils ont installés en septembre 1900. Les dates de 1842 et 1843 sont inscrites sur le tube de ces canons qui se chargeaient par la bouche.

Le texte de l’inscription figure dans la section anglaise.