The below Remembrance Day essay by Shuswap Middle School Grade 8 student Letitia Wigglesworth received the first place award from Royal Canadian Legion BC/Yukon Command and third place in Canada in the Royal Canadian Legion Literary Contest. Letitia will be reading the essay at the Remembrance Day ceremony in Salmon Arm at the cenotaph.  

Wigglesworth Park 

I am sitting under the tall old oak tree in a one-acre park in Rutland, watching as people stroll by, wearing their red Remembrance Day poppies over their hearts. I wonder if they know the significance of this park?

I see a little boy run up to the large 4ft tall sign sounding out the word 鈥淲-I-G-G-L-E-S鈥� he runs up to his mom with his arms and legs wiggling saying, 鈥淭his is Wiggles Park, we need to wiggle!鈥� The mom laughs and they walk away, the boy wiggling.

I think these passersby do not know Wigglesworth Park is a monument to a fallen war hero. There is no statue, no write-up, just the name WIGGLESWORTH at the entrance leading to the picnic tables.

Arthur Wigglesworth and his new bride Ester moved to Rutland right after their whirlwind romance and wedding in Saskatchewan in 1906. They were starting a life together on their apple orchard. In Rutland, they had three children, Richard, Doris, and Alfred.

On November 25, 1915, Arthur enlisted in 琉璃神社, and was shipped halfway around the world to fight in France during WWI. He served in the 11th Canadian Infantry Brigade - 54th (Kootenay) Battalion. He hated to leave behind his pregnant wife and three children, but he felt it was his duty to fight for his country.

In March 1917 as part of the 4th Canadian Division, Arthur began extensive training for the upcoming attack on Vimy Ridge. His brigade was told by Canadian Corporal Commander Sir Julian Byng, 鈥淐haps, you shall go over exactly like a railroad train, on time, or you shall be annihilated.鈥� At 5:30 a.m. on April 9, 1917, the four Canadian divisions attacked the Germans at Vimy Ridge. The battle lasted for 4 days, 3598 Canadians died in battle, and 7000 wounded. This battle is considered a defining moment in Canadian history, not only did the Canadians succeed where France had not, but for the first time the Canadian military emerged from under Britain鈥檚 shadow.

Corporal Arthur Wigglesworth survived the battle at Vimy Ridge, but was later killed in action on September 6, 1917. He lies in an unmarked grave in France, never returning to his home in Canada or meeting his fourth child Arthur. His name is listed on the Vimy Ridge Memorial that sits on the highest point of Vimy Ridge. Here in Canada, he is remembered by this small park in the middle of a residential area in Rutland, BC. This would have been part of his apple orchard.

I have seen the photos of Arthur in his army uniform standing tall with a stern look on his face. It is hard for me to think of him this way, because I think of him as a family man giving piggyback rides to his children, laughing and joking with them. Arthur fought in the war so that his children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and even great-great-grandchildren (me) could have the greatest gift 鈥� the chance to be free.