SYNOPSIS BY - Roger McMullen

While it has never been made public knowledge it would appear that the formation of the Kingston Br. was mostly instigated by two employees of the Post Office, Sydney Burgess and Ellis Winott.

Sydney Burgess, a veteran of WW1, had served in the Royal Navy and was a member of Middleton Br. 001. Ellis Winott served in the RCAF in WW11. Both gentlemen worked in the Kingston Post Office and were instrumental in obtaining the necessary signatures to receive a Charter from Dominion Command to form a Branch in the Village. Thus it was, that on July 11, 1946 a meeting chaired by C.V. Bower and assisted by Ellis Winott as Secretary, took place in the I.O.O.F. Hall to select an Executive Committee to run the affairs of the Branch. A Nominating Committee of Comrades Ann Foster, Chester Morse, B.A. West, Clarence Crooks, and Spurleon Morse were tasked to provide names to the meeting to be elected as President, 1st Vice-President, 2nd Vice-President and Secretary Treasurer.

President: Sydney Burgess
1st Vice-President: Comrade Keith Clarke
2nd Vice President: Comrade George Lutz
Secretary-Treasurer: Comrade P.Ellis Winott

These four Comrades proceeded to carry out the remainder of the business of the meeting and the following were elected to serve as Executive Members:

Comrade Arnold McLennan
Comrade W.R. (Bill) Carter
Comrade S.K. Banks
Comrade Basil Robar
Comrade P.Ellis Winott

A membership Committee was also elected and consisted of:

Comrade P.S. Lightfoot
Comrade Francis L. Spinney
Comrade Spurleon Morse
Comrade P.Ellis Winott

Immediate items of business to discuss were the upcoming Poppy Campaign in November; the Provincial Convention to be held in Kentville on 10 September, 1946; and an application for Associate Membership for W. Watson Pierce still serving in the Canadian Army. It was moved to have the Executive discuss boundary lines with Middleton and Berwick Branches.

From this initial meeting of Branch 98, Kingston, as it was then registered, in spite of fires, thefts, and other adversities, the Branch has grown continuously. In 1957 land was purchased in Kingston and buildings from the Torbrook Iron Ore Mines in Torbrook, Annapolis County were purchased and moved on site to enable members to have their own place of business. Monies for these purchases was loaned from three members and repaid. In 1958 some members wives were given permission to form a Ladies Auxiliary to the Branch.

It must be noted that from 11 July, 1946, Comrade Ellis Winott served as Treasurer for twenty-nine years. For his services to his Branch and his fellow man Comrade Winott had received the Legion Meritorious Service Medal and Palm Leaf, and a Life Membership, the latter being presented in 1982.

Another member of renown, who transferred from Bridgetown, was Alvin H. Foster, a decorated war hero. Comrade Foster was awarded the Military Medal for action during battle. His abilities as a leader were to serve the Branch and the Royal Canadian Legion quite well as he went through the offices of the Branch and Zone to become 1st Vice President of Provincial Command. Unfortunately Comrade Foster passed away before he could assume the Presidency of Nova Scotia Command. To honour his service to the community the Branch was renamed the Alvin H. Foster, MM, Memorial Br. 098.

In the year 2000 the Branch finds itself with over nine hundred people using its facilities. These are Life and Ordinary members, Associate-Voting, Fraternal Affiliate Voting, Fraternal Affiliate Non-Voting, and Ladies Auxiliary. Our proximity to the Military Community in Greenwood assures a source of prospective members to carry on our tradition of Remembrance and Service - not for self - but for those ex-service persons or their dependants who are in need or distress.