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During the Great War in Europe from 1914 to 1918 over 66,000 Canadians made the Supreme Sacrifice. Scattered across hundreds of battlefields throughout France are the unknown final resting place of 11,285 of these patriots. As a tribute to these men and to honour all that served during that war, the largest War Memorial Canada has ever built was erected at Vimy Ridge. |
The Vimy Memorial stands on the site of the greatest battle in Canadian military history. On April 9th 1917 four divisions of Canadian Infantry stormed Hill 145, the highest point along the 14km ridge. Three days later Hill 145 was finally captured, but not without cost. The four divisions suffered 10,602 casualties during the attack, 3,598 Canadians gave their lives.
Work was begun on the memorial in 1925 and completed eleven years later at a cost of 1.5 million dollars. Carved in the ramparts of the monument are the names of 11,285 Canadians who were killed during the war and whose final resting place is unknown.
One of the names that appear on the Vimy Memorial is Rose Lodge member Brother John Reginald Jessop.
John Jessop was born during the year 1891, in Bank Place, Maryborough, Queen's County, Ireland. While still in Ireland John was initiated into FreeMasonry as a member of Maryborough Lodge No. 398 in the jurisdiction of the Grand Lodge of Ireland.
As a young man John decided to seek his fortune in Canada and moved to the Windsor area. On April 15th 1913 Brother Jessop affiliated with Rose Lodge No. 500 in Windsor.
With the outbreak of the Great War in Europe Brother Jessop enlisted with the Canadian Expeditionary Forces and was assigned to the 52nd. Battalion of the Manitoba Regiment. Sometime during the early years of the war Brother Jessop was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant.
On October 26th 1916 somewhere in France, Lieutenant Brother John Reginald Jessop at the age of 25 paid the supreme sacrifice for his country. His final resting place was never found.
