Canadian National War Memorial, Ottawa

The National War Memorial, Canada

(Robert Lindsdell Photo)

The National War Memorial, Ottawa, Ontario.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 5065148)

The National War Memorial in Ottawa, 1938. The National War Memorial is also known as “The Response,” is a cenotaph symbolizing the sacrifice of all Canadian Armed Forces personnel who have served Canada in the cause of peace and freedom.

After the First World War, 1914-1918, there was a strong feeling in Canada that a memorial should be built to recognize those who had served their country in that war. In 1925, a world-wide competition was held to choose a design for a national commemorative war monument to be built in the capital of Canada. It was to be "expressive of the feelings of the Canadian people as a whole, to the memory of those who participated in the Great War and lost their lives in the service of humanity." The competition regulations also stated that the vision which the government wished to keep alive was "the spirit of heroism, the spirit of self-sacrifice, the spirit of all that is noble and great that was exemplified in the lives of those sacrificed in the Great War, and the services rendered by the men and women who went overseas.”

The competition was open to architects, sculptors and artists residing in the British Empire, or who were British subjects by birth but residing elsewhere, or subject of Allied nations. A total of 127 entries were received - 66 from Canada, 24 from England, 21 from France, seven from the United States, five from Belgium, two from Italy, one from Scotland and one from Trinidad. Seven finalists were then chosen to submit scale models of their designs.

In January 1926, the Board of Assessors selected the model submitted by Vernon March of Farnborough, Kent, England. His theme was "the Great Response of Canada," represented by uniformed figures from all services passing through a granite arch. The idea, March wrote, was "to perpetuate in this bronze group the people of Canada who went Overseas to the Great War, and to represent them, as we of today saw them, as a record for future generations..." There was to be no suggestion of glorifying war.

Vernon March was helped by his six brothers and his sister who completed the work after his untimely death in 1930. They molded the full size figures in clay, then cast them in plaster and finally made the bronze figures in their own foundry.

The figures were completed in July 1932, but it was not possible to commence construction of the memorial arch in Ottawa because the site was not yet ready. In 1933, the figures, mounted on a plaster-covered base were displayed in London's Hyde Park for six months. They were then stored in the Marchs' studio until 1937 when they were shipped to Ottawa.

In December 1937, a contract was awarded to E.G.M. Cape and Company, Montreal contractors, for the construction of the granite pedestal and arch. Work started the following year with Sydney March directing the construction. He was joined later by two of his brothers, Percy and Walter. On Wednesday, October 19, 1938, the memorial was completed, and placed on its permanent site in the Nation's Capital.

After the completion of the memorial, only the work on the surrounding area was left. Jacques Greber, who had been chosen to make plans for the development of the city of Ottawa, was used as a consultant. A contract was awarded to A.W. Robertson Limited, Toronto contractors, for the terraces, walks and grading of the site for which seven varieties of Canadian granite were used. Everything was finished in time for the Royal visit in the spring of 1939.

The National War Memorial was officially unveiled by His Majesty King George VI on Sunday, May 21, 1939. In his address to an estimated 100,000 persons who gathered to witness the ceremony, King George spoke of the symbolism of the memorial and the sacrifice to which it was dedicated:

The memorial speaks to her world of Canada's heart. Its symbolism has been beautifully adapted to this great end. It has been well named "The Response." One sees at a glance the answer made by Canada when the world's peace was broken and freedom threatened in the fateful years of the Great War. It depicts the zeal with which this country entered the conflict.

On May 29, 1982, the memorial was rededicated to include the dates of the Second World War 1939-1945 and the Korean War 1950-1953.

In 2000, the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier was added in front of the memorial. The tomb contains the remains of an unknown Canadian soldier from a war cemetery near Vimy Ridge, France.

On 11 November 2014, the memorial was rededicated to include the dates of the South African War 1899-1902 and the mission in Afghanistan 2001-2014. The words "IN SERVICE TO CANADA AU SERVICE DU CANADA" were inscribed at the front and back of the memorial. (veterans.gc.ca)

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 5065147)

The National War Memorial in Ottawa, emerging figures just after assembly, 29 Sep 1938.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 5065136)

Unpacked bronze sculptures assembly before installation on the National War Memorial in Ottawa, 29 Sep 1938. A rare view of the women in the sculpture crowd.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 5065429)

Unpacked bronze sculptures assembly before installation on the National War Memorial in Ottawa, 12 Oct 1938.

(Jean Gagnon Photo)

Sculptures at the top of the memorial.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 5065145)

Construction of the National War Memorial - Close-up of the surmounting bronze scuptures depicting Peace and Freedom

(Gilles Y. Hamel Photo)

Emerging figures, The National War Memorial at night.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 5065426)

Workers of the E.G.M. Cape & Co. installing granite steps at the base of the pedestal of the National War Memorial, 6 Oct 1938.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 5065143)

Construction of the National War Memorial - Side view of the completed archway and pedestal, looking north-east, 1938.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 5065150)

Construction of the National War Memorial - View of bronze figures entering the archway, looking south-east, 1938.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 5065149)

Construction of the National War Memorial - View of the west side of the pedestal and archway from ground level, 1938.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 4953562)

September 1945 view of the National War Memorial in Confederation Square and the Chateau Laurier hotel to its left. Next to it, the Daly Building (government offices) and to the right, Union Station. This view is looking east from a building on the south side of Sparks Street.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 4235305)

The Queen Mother Visits National War Memorial.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 4301711)

Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip, accompanied by Dominion President of the Canadian Legion David L. Burgess, prepare to lay a wreath on the National War Memorial, 13 Oct 1957.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3561269)

General Dwight Eisenhower taking the salute during a wreath-laying ceremony at the National War Memorial, alongside Prime Minister William Lyon Mackenzie King in the fur coat, 9 Jan 1946.