Editor:
Thanks to Cpl. Sean Ellis and Major the Rev. Jim Short for their letters in response to Doug Husband's column about Memorial Park. I especially praise Short's poignant and expressive description of the reasons for a cenotaph, and I support his call for Stephen John Stock's name to be added to the others on the granite column.
I draw readers' attention to another young man from Delta, Percy Leonard Devereaux, who used to live over by Kirkland House. English born, he came with his family to Ladner's Landing in 1891. His sister Gladys and brother Arthur were born here.
In March 1901, the 20-year-old Devereaux left with 1,200 other Canadians to join Major-General Robert Baden-Powell and the South African Constabulary.
In June 1902 an article appeared in the Delta News (the predecessor to the Optimist), in which his many friends were advised he had died of wounds "while fighting the Boers at Buffelsdoorn." He passed away on May 31, 1902, one day before peace was declared in that war.
Regrettably, his grave site has become lost, and his name is on two memorials in South Africa. I think Devereaux's service and sacrifice should be remembered here in Ladner. Perhaps on Nov. 11, when you look at the names on our cenotaph, at least you will think of Sapper Stephen Stock and Trooper Percy Devereaux. I will imagine their names are up there.
Peter Broznitsky
