Trattle Street in Fort Langley, planted for Alfred Trattle,
former CPR worker & farmer, who died at Vimy Ridge in 1917
Wright Street in Fort Langley, planted for Jesse Wright, who
came to Canada in 1911, enlisted early in the War, and died
overseas
Wilson Townline Road (96th Ave.) in Fort Langley, probably
planted for A. W. Wilson, listed as killed in action
Johnston Townline Road (216th Street) in Milner, planted for
Arthur Johnston, grocer and local leader, who died in the
French trenches in 1916
In the summer of 1914, a group known as the Langley Volunteers began preparing for what was later called the Great War. At the head of this organization was Dr. Benjamin Marr, Municipal Collector Archie Payne, and local grocer Arthur Johnston. During their service in Europe, Marr and Payne decided that if they were lucky enough to return, they would do what they could to remember Langley’s fallen soldiers.
After the War, Marr and Payne returned to Langley and began their memorial projects. Street names were changed to commemorate the soldier who had lived there, such as Glover Road or Berry Road.
To create a living memorial to the dead, it was decided in 1923 to plant a tree for each fallen soldier at their renamed street. Originally the trees were surrounded by a white fence and featured a plaque stating who the road was named after. All of the original markers have disappeared, and although many of the trees have died, the remaining few stand as a reminder of how everyone in this small community was touched by the far-away war.
The Langley Heritage Society placed house-shaped cement monuments at the remaining four trees as a memorial to both the First World War soldiers and the people who planted these trees in 1923. Plaques were placed on the monuments in a ceremony on December 20, 2003.