Courtesy of the PEI Dept. of Agriculture and Forestry

Beach Grove Memorial Forest. On June 11, 1995, a ceremony was held to dedicate Beach Grove as a memorial forest for Islanders who died in service for Canada during the Second World War from 1939–1945. When the war broke out in 1939, the property where the forest grows today was transformed into a training facility for the 2nd and 8th Batteries and later for other regiments and units throughout the war years. The forest has four monuments containing the names of almost 600 Islanders who did not make it home; Islanders who served with the Royal Canadian Navy, Royal Canadian Army, Royal Canadian Air Force and the Merchant Navy. Beach Grove Memorial Forest not only contains trees 50 to 100 years old, which could have provided shade for soldiers in training, but also young trees planted as a living memorial. A walking trail wanders through the property allowing visitors year-round access to the trees that stand as a reminder of Islanders’ sacrifice.