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National War Memorial (Canada)
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The National War Memorial (also known as The Response), is a tall granite cenotaph with acreted bronze sculptures, that stands in Confederation Square, Ottawa, and serves as the federal war memorial for Canada.
Originally built to commemorate World War I, in 1982 the memorial was also inscribed with the dates "1939-1945," for World War II, and "1950-1953," for the Korean War. Further, it also now symbolises those Canadians who have died in other wars and on peacekeeping duties.
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Encyclopedia
The National War Memorial (also known as The Response), is a tall granite cenotaph with acreted bronze sculptures, that stands in Confederation Square, Ottawa, and serves as the federal war memorial for Canada.
Originally built to commemorate World War I, in 1982 the memorial was also inscribed with the dates "1939-1945," for World War II, and "1950-1953," for the Korean War. Further, it also now symbolises those Canadians who have died in other wars and on peacekeeping duties. In 2000, the Canadian Tomb of the Unknown Soldier was added to the memorial site.
History
Competition
A competition was held in 1925 to seek designs for a national war memorial to be dedicated to World War I. Entrants were limited to residents of the British Empire who were British subjects, or who were citizens of allied nations. The competition received 127 entries, of which seven were asked to provide scale models for final judging.
The winner, announced in January, 1926, was Vernon March, from Farnborough, United Kingdom. His theme was to represent the response of Canada to war, symbolised by service people from all disciplines marching through a triumphal arch, but with a deliberate aim to avoid the glorification of war.
Symbolically, two 5.33m (17ft 6in) high allegories of peace and freedom stand at the apex of the arch, their proximity to each other representing the inseparability of the two concepts, under which the depictions of 22 Canadian service-men, from all branches of the forces engaged in the First World War in historically correct uniforms, move towards the call of duty. To avoid foreshortening from a pedestrian viewpoint, the group of figures is placed at a specific height above street level; each body is approximately 2.4m (7ft 10in) high. At the front are infantrymen; to the left a Lewis gunner, to the right a kilted soldier with a Vickers machine gun. Following these are a pilot in full gear, an air mechanic, and a sailor. Both a cavalryman and a mounted artilleryman are emerging from the arch, side by side, followed by two riflemen pressing through the arch, and behind them are the men and women of the support services, including nurses, a stretcher bearer, and a lumberman. All of these are affixed to a pedestal executed in rose-grey Canadian granite from the Dumas Quarry at Rivière-à-Pierre.
Construction
Work began in 1926 under the auspices of Public Works and Government Services Canada. March was assisted by his six brothers and his sister, all of whom completed the work after March's death in 1930. The sculptures were first produced in clay, from which molds where made, and the bronze was then cast in the Marchs' foundry; this work was finished in July, 1932, and after a period on display in Hyde Park, London, and in storage in the foundry, they were relocated to Ottawa in 1937.
The contract for the construction of the arch was awarded in December, 1937, and the entire cenotaph was completed on October 19, 1938, after which the landscaping surrounding the memorial was laid out by Jacques Greber, and installed by Toronto contractors. On May 21 of the following year the memorial was officially unveiled by George VI, King of Canada, in the presence of an estimated 100,000 people, months before the Second World War began. This event and the tour arranged with it marked the first time Canada's reigning monarch had visited the country.
The memorial, from grade to the tip of the surmounting statues' wings, is approximately 21.34m (70ft), with the arch itself 3.05m (10ft) wide, 2.44m (8ft) deep, and 8.03m (26ft 4in) high. The lowest step of the pedestal is 15.9m (52ft 2in) by 8.08m (26ft 6in). 503 tonnes of granite and 32 tonnes of bronze were used, all of which rests on a block of reinforced concrete based on steel columns set into bedrock.
The Memorial features 23 bronze figures, representing people who fought in the First World War, emerging from an memorial arch, moving from war into peace. Overhead, winged figures symbolize Peace and Liberty. The dates commemorating the Second World War (1939-1945) and the Korean War (1950-1953) were added in 1982. The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier was added in 2000. Located on the upper plaza, in front of the existing National War Memorial monument, a dark Caledonia granite sarcophagus 12 feet long, 8 feet wide and 3 feet high encloses a casket containing the remains of the unknown soldier. A bronze relief sculpture is secured to the top with stainless steel pins. The four corner pieces of the sarcophagus also has bronze relief work. The unidentified soldier was selected from a cemetery in the vicinity of Vimy Ridge, the site of a famous Canadian battle of the First World War. The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier was created to honour the more than 116,000 Canadians whether they be navy, army, air force or merchant marine, who died or may die for their country in all conflicts - past, present, and future. See a 360-degree Virtual Tour of the National War Memorial on http://www.ottawakiosk.com/panos/sparks_street_4.html
Scandal
A national scandal arose following Canada Day, 2006, when a group of young men were photographed urinating on the memorial at night, after celebrating the national holiday. Two teenagers later issued apologies and undertook community service, while another man, Stephen Fernandes, 23, of Montreal was charged by Detective Michael Walker of the Ottawa Police Service with mischief, but later claimed to have no memory of the incident. This incident prompted the establishment of a present Guard of Honour at the site, though the soldiers of the Ceremonial Guard are only present between 9am and 5pm.
Modern usage
The National War Memorial is the site of the nationally televised Remembrance Day ceremony every year on November 11. Along with Canadian war veterans, the ceremony is attended by the Governor General, his or her Prime Minister, and other important members of the government and other groups and organizations. The ceremony includes the placing of wreaths by representatives of various groups, such as veterans, the House of Commons, and the youth of Canada. Whenever the monarch or another member of the Canadian Royal Family is in Ottawa, they will lay a wreath at the monument.
Gallery
See also
External links
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