National War Memorial (Newfoundland)

The National War Memorial in Downtown St. John's is the most elaborate of all the post World War I monuments in Newfoundland and Labrador. It was erected at King's Beach on Water Street where, in 1583, Sir Humphrey Gilbert claimed Newfoundland for England (following John Cabot's 1497 expedition). It was formally unveiled on Memorial Day, July 1, 1924 by Field Marshal Douglas Haig, 1st Earl Haig.

National War Memorial
Newfoundland
Canada
The National War Memorial
For soldiers of Newfoundland, World War I
UnveiledJuly 1, 1924
Location47°34′03.28″N 52°42′13.67″W
near 
St. John's, Newfoundland, Canada
Designed byFather Thomas Nangle
Erected by "a grateful people to honour its war dead"

The Great War Veterans' Association and the Newfoundland Patriotic Association launched the campaign to have the National War Memorial established. They developed a committee to establish the design and undertake the fund-raising to pay for the proposed memorial. Construction of the memorial was supervised by Lieutenant-Colonel Father Thomas Nangle, the Roman Catholic Padre of Royal Newfoundland Regiment and (Ret) Captain Gerald (Gerry) Whitty.

Design
Unveiling on Memorial Day, July 1, 1924
The memorial in 2005

The design was semi-circular with a graduated plateau rising from the entrance stairway on Water Street to the cenotaph on Duckworth Street. The five figures were designed by two English sculptors, Ferdinand Victor Blundstone (top and sides) and Gilbert Bayes (front), and were cast in bronze by E.J. Parlanti of London, England.[1] These figures represent Newfoundland's involvement in World War I.

At the top of the central pedestal is a figure of a woman. It symbolizes Newfoundland's willingness to serve and the spirit of loyalty to the Empire. She is holding a flaming torch in her left hand as a symbol of freedom. In her right hand, she is holding a sword poised and ready to battle, if she must. From the sides of the central pedestal, two wings of granite protrude. On the west wing, representing the Newfoundlanders who joined the Newfoundland Royal Naval Reserve, is a sailor holding a spyglass. On the east wing, representing the men of the Royal Newfoundland Regiment, is a soldier in full battle gear, loading his rifle, searching the horizon for "the enemy".

Out in front, on the lower pedestal, are fishermen in oilskins and Wellington boots, and a lumberman with his axe slung over his shoulder, symbolizing the Newfoundlanders who served with the Merchant Marine and the Forestry Corps. Over their heads is a granite cross symbolizing the sacred nature of the war memorial. Below, is a bronze plaque stating that the memorial was erected by "a grateful people to honour its war dead". Similar plaques were added on both sides of the pedestal to commemorate the Newfoundlanders who died in World War II, the Korean War, and the War in Afghanistan.

Ceremonies

Each year the memorial is the site of several ceremonies to commemorate those service personnel who died in past wars.

  • April 25, the date of the commemoration of the Gallipoli offensive in World War I
  • First Sunday in May, the Battle of the Atlantic is commemorated
  • July 1—Memorial Day—is the date of remembrance of Battle of the Somme at Beaumont-Hamel
  • Third Sunday in September, the anniversary of the Battle of Britain is celebrated
  • November 11, is Armistice Day, the anniversary of the official end of World War I

Legacy

In 1928 Newfoundland issued a postage stamp titled 'War Memorial, St. John's', depicting the memorial.[2][3]

References
  1. "First World War Commemorations At Home". Newfoundland & Labrador in the First World War. Memorial University of Newfoundland. Retrieved 7 April 2020.
  2. Newfoundland Post stamp
  3. "War Memorial, St. John's". Stamp Collecting World. Retrieved 28 May 2021.
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