This story is a part of Branch 25’s on-going National Legion Week campaign.

Branch 25 (San Francisco) received its charter on 12 August 1931.  When it was first established, Branch 25 was a part of the Northern Zone of the Western Command of the Royal Canadian Legion (and 13 of those branches are listed on the flag below, which dates to sometime between 1951 and 1953).

While most of the records from that early period have been lost (likely in the garages and attics of former leaders when they moved away or passed on), an article in the Sacramento Bee from 1931 referenced 16 posts and 3500 members in California at the time.

Based on our own research through newspaper clippings and the Canadian Legion of the British Empire Service League records from 1939-1943 held by the Bancroft Library Collection, we know that the 16 branches included:

15 Oakland
19 Sacramento
25 San Francisco
30 Marin County
31 Fresno (“Vimy”)
34 Stockton
35 San Jose
48 Alameda
52 Peninsula (“Maple Leaf”) / Redwood City
57 Petaluma
113 Berkeley
114 Hayward
126 Santa Cruz
138 Contra Costa
161 San Mateo
171 Unknown

Today, the only remaining branch in Northern California is Branch 25, which is one of four branches in the Western US International Zone (and all four branches are based in California).  According to this letter from the Branch President at the time, Howard Cavill, on the occasion of the branch’s 70th anniversary, at one point in time Branch 25 had over 600 members.

As noted above, the membership of Branch 25 was about 60 individuals 22 years ago.  Today we are pleased to report that the branch has 44 members located in the Bay Area, throughout Northern California, and all over the state – as well as members in Nevada, Oregon, Idaho, Texas, British Columbia, Ontario, and even Mexico.

In the coming days you’ll have an opportunity to read more about over activities in the Bay Area from our annual Poppy Campaign to our services of remembrance to sponsoring a cadet corps to the maintenance of several cemeteries where Canadian and Commonwealth servicemen and women are laid to rest.

Note that our PHOTOS/VIDEOS page above has a number of historic photos, videos, and programs from years past.  Some of the pre-1950s ones that include a variety of branches that were eventually folded into Branch 25 include:

• 7th Annual Convention – Santa Monica, CA (1937)
• Armistice Day Parade – Sacramento (11 November 1938)
• Canadian Legion Ladies Auxiliary Float (1938)
• 9th Annual Convention – Stockton, CA (July 1939)
• Memorial Day or Veterans Day Parade (circa 1939)
• 10th Annual Convention – Ventura, CA (1940)
• Canadian Legion War Services – A Year of Service (1940)
• 11th Annual Convention – San Jose, CA (02-06 July 1941)
• Member Highlight: Joan Para (1942)
• 12th Annual Convention – Riverside, CA (1942)
• Northern Area & State Command Meeting – San Francisco, CA (04 July 1943)
• Northern Area Rally & Meeting – San Francisco, CA (01-02 July 1944)
• Canadian Cemetery – Dieppe (February 1945)
• 17th Annual Convention – Sacramento, CA (03-06 July 1947)
• 19th Annual Convention – Oakland, CA (1949)
• Unknown Convention (1940s)
• Unknown Convention – Possibly in Sacramento, CA (1940s)
• Canadian Legion Pipers – San Jose (1940-1949)

This story is a part of Branch 25’s on-going National Legion Week campaign.

Christine Philipson
Ordinary (Veteran) Member since 2009

Christine’s service began at the age of 15 as a volunteer musician with the Lincoln & Welland Regiment Band.  She would later become a paid musician with the band until she was 20, when she transitioned to regular forces.  Christine would serve the Canadian Forces from 1986 to 2004 in a variety of roles over multiple postings.  Upon retirement from the regular forces, Christine continued her involvement with the Lincoln & Welland Regiment Band – something that she continues to do to this day.

Christine originally joined the Legion to have like-minded people who speak the same language as me.  As she got involved in her branch, Christine was drawn to organizing the annual poppy campaign and supporting the poster and poetry contests because she felt it was most important to ensure that all never forgot the supreme sacrifice that so many made – particularly the children.

Ordinary (Veteran) membership is open to any Canadian citizen or Commonwealth subject who is of federal voting age and whose service was terminated under conditions other than dishonourable or for reasons of misconduct and who served or is serving in:

• the Canadian Forces or His Majesty’s Forces, including Regular or Reserve Forces under class “C” service;
• the Forces or Underground Forces of any of His majesty’s allies in any war, conflict or police action in which Canada was involved (Provincial or Dominion Command approval is required for underground service);
• an actual theatre of war in any of the non-military services, during any war in which Canada was involved (i.e. Merchant Navy);
• His Majesty’s Reserve Forces including Cadet Instructors on Cadet Cadre, for not less than one year;
• The Royal Canadian Mounted Police or The Royal Newfoundland Constabulary, for not less than one year;
• the Forces of a country while that country was a member of NATO or NORAD in alliance with Canada;
• the Forces of the United States;
• the Vietnam War in the Forces of the United States, Australia, New Zealand, the Republic of Korea or South Vietnam and who was a Canadian citizen or Commonwealth subject at time of service;
• the Canadian Coast Guard as an officer or crew member, and who has two or more years of active service on the high seas or inland waterways; or
• a city, municipal or provincial police force, as a police officer, for not less than one year.