Historic Chester, Nova Scotia
92 duke st. Chester, NS, Canada

Who is the soldier on the Chester cenotaph? Chester residents are familiar with the ever-watchful gaze of "the Highlander" standing atop the cenotaph at Parade Square. But did you know that the sculpture was modeled after a Chester resident? After the first world war, Massey Rhind (1860-1936), a well-known Scottish-American sculptor, leased a home in Chester, NS known as the Quarter Deck. While staying here he developed a love for the area and decided to design and donate t...he War Memorial Monument in memory of the 54 Chester area residents who laid down their lives in WWI. Known as 'The Highlander,' the bronze figure was valued at $6500 when it was dedicated on August 4,1922. The statue was cast in New York. Russell Zinck was chosen to model for the Highlander as he was perceived to have a face representative of the people of the area. Russell Zinck enlisted in his hometown of Chester in June 1916. Born in 1897, he was a teacher by trade and had just celebrated his 19th birthday two months earlier. He joined the 193rd Nova Scotia Highlanders and was eventually sent to the Royal Highlanders of Canada (42ndBattalion). The 42nd Battalion saw considerable action in France all throughout 1917. Russell would have seen action at Vimy Ridge, he was again appointed to Lance Corporal the following month in Arleux. Hill 70 and Passchendaele would round out the year for Russell and as others in the battalion fell in battle, Russell remained. Twice he would take leave in December, returning to the battalion without issue. Russell and the 42ndbattalion would take part in the Battle of Amiens, Arras, Canal du Nord, Cambrai, and Mons. Through almost two full years of frontline service Russell had made it through without so much as a single visit to a field hospital and in March of 1919 Russell demobilized back home. Russell returned to Canada to enroll at McGill University graduating from medicine in 1924. In 1926 Russell opened his own practice in Lunenburg, Nova Scotia where he worked for 54 years until his death in 1980.

Chester Front Harbour 1934 vs Present. Courtesy Lisa Totman. Source: Chester Municipal Heritage Society

A glimpse of Queen St, Chester in 1935. The Cape Cod in the middle of the old photo was thought to be the oldest in Chester, built sometime around 1755 (now demolished). Photo Courtesy of Mr. Murray Zink. Source: 'Chester: A Pictorial History of a Nova Scotia Village'.

Chester NS - Centennial Parade in 1967 on Pig Loop Road. Photo was taken by Jean Corkum (Courtesy Craig Corkum).

"A Canadian family visits the newly erected Chester War Memorial, Nova Scotia. The memorial was erected in honour of those killed during WW1." Steve Given "Produced from the original negative in my collection." https://www.flickr.com//69/12844099045/in/photolist-kyZnax