William George Barker VC 1894-1930

Carfrae Chapel

Ewart Chapel

There are three plaques at this location.
All can be seen on this page.

Photos and transcription by contributor Wayne Adam - Posted December, 2011

Photo Source - Wikimedia

Inside this mausoleum in Mount Pleasant Cemetery, attached to a door, can be seen this plaque. As well, outside the mausoleum can be found two tablets about this gentleman. Here's what the plaque inside says:

Plaque coordinates: 43.692489 -79.389360

Most decorated war hero in the history of Canada, the British Empire, and the Commonwealth of Nations

Victoria Cross
Distinguished Service Order (twice)
Military Cross (three times)
Mentioned in despatches (three times)
Medaglia d'Argento al Valor Militare (Italy - twice)
Croix de Guerre (France)

Born in a log cabin in Manitoba, he entered the Great War as a simple soldier. He soon joined the Royal Flying Corps, first as observer, then as pilot. He rose in rank and fame, and became so skilled that during his last twelve months of combat not one pilot under his command or aeroplane under his escort was lost to the enemy.

By war's end he had downed fifty enemy aircraft. His fellow ace, William Avery Bishop VC, would call him

"The deadliest air fighter who ever lived"

After he died in an aviation accident, his state funeral was the largest every held in the history of Toronto.

Photos and transcription by contributor Wayne Adam - Posted December, 2011

This plaque can be found inside the mausoleum at the entrance to the chapel on the main floor. Here's what it says:

Thomas Carfrae Jr. was born in Edinburgh, Scotland in 1796. Carfrae was instrumental in establishing the York Mechanics' Institute (1832) which later became the Toronto Public Library. He served for some time as collector of customs for York Harbour. Active in politics, Carfrae was wounded during the Mackenzie Rebellion attack on Montgomery's Tavern in 1837. That same year, he was appointed magistrate. He died in 1841 and was buried in Potter's Field, later being moved to Toronto Necropolis.

Carfrae was a founding director of the Trustees of the York General Burying Grounds (1826), a non-sectarian organization now known as Toronto Trust Cemeteries. Mount Pleasant Cemetery is one of the properties it administers.

Photos and transcription by contributor Wayne Adam - Posted December, 2011

This plaque can be found inside the mausoleum at the entrance to the chapel on the lower floor south. Here's what it says:

John Ewart was the first president of the York Mechanics' Institute which became the Toronto Public Library. Born in Scotland in 1788, he became a contractor in the Town of York, building such noteworthy landmarks as the courthouse, parliament buildings, Osgoode Hall and St. Andrew's and St. Paul's Churches. He died in 1856, and was buried in Potter's Field, later being moved to Toronto Necropolis.

Ewart was a founding director of the Trustees of the York General Burying Grounds (1826), a non-sectarian organization now known as Toronto Trust Cemeteries. Mount Pleasant Cemetery is one of the properties it administers.

Related Ontario plaque
William Avery "Billy" Bishop 1894-1956

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