BX October 1, 1968
David Monkman
Helped with 600 Vets’ Funerals, Legion’s Grand Old Man Killed
A man who has acted as a pallbearer for more than 600 of his fellow war veterans is dead. David Monkman, 85 of 105 Dundas Street, was fatally injured Monday afternoon when struck by a car on West Street near the CNR Station.
He received head injuries and fractures to his legs when he was thrown 30 feet by the impact. He died in the Brantford General Hospital a short time later.
Driver of the car was ***** of ***** West Street. He was charged with careless driving.
Mr. Monkman was known as the grand old man of Branch 90 Royal Canadian Legion. Until two years ago he was chairman of the sick and visiting committee and at his death was a committee member.
During the past 25 years he was a pallbearer more than 600 times and on many more occasions helped to arrange funerals for his dead comrades.
Mr. Monkman, never forgot the living. Over the years he made thousands of visits to veterans in hospitals and private homes.
“I do what I can to cheer up my comrades who are confined to bed,” he said several years ago.
Asked at the time if funerals depressed him, Mr. Monkman replied, “No, I feel obligated to see that the sad events are carried out with dignity and respect, if I can help soften a sad blow, I feel well rewarded.”
Gordon Crockock president o Branch 90 said a man did not have to be a member of the Legion to receive a visit from Mr. Monkman.
“As long as he was a veteran, Dave would visit him,” Crockock said.
“He has been a valued member of long standing” he said.
Mr. Monkman was presented with a Meritorious Service Shield by the Provincial Command in 1962 for his work in the Legion.
Mr. Monkman enlisted with the 38th Dufferin Rifles in 1911. He was attached to the regiment until 1923 and became a sergeant and an instructor in musketry.
He went on active service with the 215th Brant Battalion at the start of the First World War.
Mr. Monkman was a football player and was the only person in North America to hold the Aston Medal for weightlifting.
He was born in Leeds, Yorkshire, England and came to Brantford in 1910. He was employed by Ham and Nott for 30 years and for eight years was employed by Grafton’s Ltd., retiring in 1960.
Mr. and Mrs. Monkman celebrated their diamond wedding anniversary in 1964.
Mr. Monkman will be at the Hill and Robinson Funeral Home from Wednesday morning. Funeral service will be Thursday at 3 p.m. with interment in the Soldiers’ Plot, Mount Hope Cemetery.
