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ABOUT US - OUR HISTORY

The mission of the Royal Canadian Legion, Ambassador & Walkerville Branch 644,
is to serve and advocate for all Veterans and their dependents; to promote
remembrance; and to act in the service of Canada and its communities. Through
our mandate, we promote, support, and participate in all forms of municipal,
community, and national service, in order to accomplish our mission.

Initially Branch 12 was under the auspices of the Great War Veterans Association
(GWVA) and the first meetings were held in 1919 in the basement of store in the
Holland Block at the corner of Lincoln Road and Assumption Street. The name of
the store was probably Premiere Confectionary.

In 1920, due to a rapidly growing membership, the GWVA sought to establish a
permanent location. They were able to lease a piece of Crown property on Brant
Street, behind the Walkerville Post Office. Also, they acquired a surplus army
barracks and erected it on the foundation they built on the new property. Given
its previous life as an army hut, the building quickly acquired the nickname “The
Hut”.

In 1925, there was a proliferation of different Veteran Clubs. When General
Douglas Haig encouraged Canadian Veterans to join the British Empire Service
league, the GWVA was one of the first to join up. In the fall of 1925, the Windsor
GWVA officially became the Walkerville and Ford Branch 12.
As the membership grew over the years between 1920 and 1977 the Hut evolved
to the structure that it now is. 1938 saw an addition to the rear of the hut for
executive offices and games room. A major overhaul in 1947 saw relocation of the
hut to the north end of the property and construction of a new auditorium
complete with balcony and stage. A major renovation of the auditorium occurred
in 1963/64 with interior upgrades and a stone/siding exterior. In 1965 the original
army hut was replaced with a block building. It’s rumoured that the original hut is
still used as a cottage somewhere near Lake Erie. The final piece of the Hut's
evolution was in 1977 after a truck smashed through the kitchen wall. At that

time, the kitchen was totally renovated and a storage room was added onto the
north end of the building.
In 1959 a new Branch for the Legion was formed. The newly-formed Lt.-Col. D.C.
Warnica Branch 578, Canadian Legion, came into being when it succeeded the
Essex Regiment (R.C.A.C.) Association. The meeting, which was held in the Branch
clubrooms at 562 Mercer St., saw the official presentation of the Legion Branch
and the election of officers and the naming of 50 charter members. In February
2010 Branch 578 amalgamated with Branch 12 and became one Branch.
On October 22, 2015 the Hut hosted an Open House to celebrate its 90 th year as a
Legion Branch.

The founder and first president of Ambassador Branch 143 held his first meeting
in a room near the Essex County Court House, Brock and Sandwich Streets, in the
Town of Sandwich, Ontario. A Charter had been issued on May 21, 1929, at
Sandwich, Ontario, to Ambassador (Ont. #143) Branch of the Royal Canadian
Legion Meetings were held in the room for a short period of time until they were
able to rent quarters on Sandwich Street across from the Dominion House where
they remained for the next two years.

At the height of the depression, Branch 143 was given free quarters in a vacant
school bungalow at Prince Road and Huron Line. Two years elapsed and the
Branch had to move again. This time to the upper floor of a red square bricked
building just west of the Brock Street School at Brock and Sandwich Streets. This
building is still standing.

The depression had caused hard times for all. The determination and the
domination of true Legion spirit enabled the Branch to survive. The members
borrowed a truck, formed a task force, and set out to collect unsaleable farm
produce which they distributed to needy ex-servicemen and their families in any
area of the country. This project took hold and developed to the extent that
within a short period of time nearly 100 workers were operating with drivers,
trucks and gasoline provided by the local motor industries. Branch 143 was
somewhat relieved of these excessive duties with the increase in welfare
organizations at Municipal, Provincial and Federal levels.

In 1941, due to the ever-growing membership, another move was made to the
south-west corner of Randolph and Wyandotte Streets. Through the kind effort of

the late Mayor Arthur (Art) Reaume, a flag pole was raised on the opposite side of
the street.

In 1944, the school building at Bridge Avenue and Wyandotte Streets West was
purchased. Members poured their own funds into the purchase and moved in
after alterations were completed.

At the end of World War Two, the membership increased to new heights with the
return of the World War Two veterans. It then became evident that the Branch
had to expand.

In 1953, a building committee was formed to extend the north
room 90 feet. This was completed in time for the Branch’s Twenty-Fifth
Anniversary in May 1954.

With the increase of younger members it became possible for the Branch to
embark on an extensive program in community activities. A Boy Scout group was
sponsored. Countless thousands of dollars was spent on sports for the younger
set. As many as sixteen softball teams operated in a single year, which meant
participation by 288 players and 48 managers and coaches. The Branch also
innovated the Junior Dart League for boys and girls 10 to 12 years of age. This
League was conducted on Saturday mornings in club rooms.

In 1958, the Windsor Olympic Club approached Zone A1 for financial assistance to
keep the Club afloat. A special meeting was called with the Club officials and the
Zone Executive. Branch 143 had two representatives at this meeting and it was
their strong opinion that the Royal Canadian Legion should have a community
project that would enhance the Legion’s image in the City of Windsor. It was
agreed the Legion branches in Zone A1 would underwrite the full funding of the
Olympic Club. It was also agreed to change the name to the Windsor Legion
Olympic Club. The first chairman of the Club was Cecil Tucker with Archie green as
the coach. The Zone then set their goal to raising the necessary funds for such a
large undertaking. Raffles, Bingos and other methods were used. During this
period, the O’Keefe Brewing Company had a travelling all-professional variety
show and they offered the Windsor Legion Olympic Club the privilege of
sponsoring with all profits to the Club. Three of these events were sponsored over
a period of two years at the Windsor Armouries, which greatly improved the
Club’s treasury. Our athletes’ first out-of-town meet was to St. Lambert, Quebec,
which was followed by numerous other meets throughout Canada. The Club was
such a success that Ontario Provincial Command asked for guidance in setting up

a program for all of Ontario and, eventually, Dominion Command set up a
program for all of Canada.

In 2008 Ambassador Branch 143 sold their building to the University of Windsor
and purchased the Air Force Club on Marentette Avenue.

On May 19, 2019 Branch 143 hosted an Open House to celebrate its 90 th year as a
Legion Branch.

In 2022 Walkerville Branch 12 & Ambassador Branch 143 amalgamated to form
Ambassador & Walkerville Branch 644.

Wayne GosseBranch 644 / Newsletter Editor