description National War Memorial Overview
Canada's National War Memorial is a large monument located in Confederation Square in downtown Ottawa. Designed by English sculptor Vernon March, the memorial features a towering granite arch topped with bronze sculptures of 22 military figures and their horses passing through it. It was unveiled in 1939 by King George VI to commemorate the Canadians who served in the First World War. Later, its scope was officially broadened to honor all Canadian war dead, making it the country's central national military memorial.
insights Ranking position
National War Memorial ranks #357 of 564 in the Monument ranking, behind Charminar, ahead of Monumento a la Bandera.
help National War Memorial FAQ
What do the bronze figures on Canada's National War Memorial represent?
The uniformed figures represent Canadians from different services passing through the arch in what sculptor Vernon March called the Great Response of Canada. Victory and Liberty stand above the granite arch, while the composition deliberately avoids presenting war as glorious.
Who completed the National War Memorial after Vernon March died?
Vernon March died in 1930 before the monument was finished. His six brothers and sister completed the bronze figures, and Sydney March later supervised construction in Ottawa.
Is the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier part of the National War Memorial?
The tomb was added directly in front of the memorial in 2000. It contains the remains of an unidentified Canadian First World War soldier repatriated from a cemetery near Vimy Ridge in France.
Why are several different wars inscribed on the Ottawa memorial?
The monument was dedicated in 1939 for Canada's First World War service, then broadened through later rededications. It now recognizes service connected with conflicts including the Second World War, Korean War, South African War, and Afghanistan mission.
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