Centennial of the Newfoundland National War Memorial (1924-2024)

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On July 26, 2022, the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador, in partnership with the Royal Canadian Legion, the Government of Canada, and the Commonwealth War Graves Commission announced the refurbishment of the Newfoundland National War Memorial. The refurbishment of the Memorial included the repatriation of the remains of an unknown Newfoundland soldier from the First World War battlefields of northern France.

An unknown Newfoundland soldier

During the First World War, Newfoundland was a self-governing realm of the British Empire with Dominion status. Newfoundland joined the Canadian federation in 1949. The province’s official name was changed to Newfoundland and Labrador in 2001.

Approximately 12,000 Newfoundlanders and Labradorians enlisted to serve during the First World War. More than 1,700 tragically lost their lives, and more than 800 of those have no known grave.

The majority of Newfoundlanders and Labradorians served in British military services and respective support units: Navy, Army, Airforce, Mercantile Marine, Forestry Companies, Volunteer Aid Detachments, and Nursing Services, both overseas and on the home front. A significant number also served in the allied services of Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and the United States.

The remains of an unknown Newfoundland soldier will represent the collective contribution and sacrifice of Newfoundlanders and Labradorians who served fought and died in all branches of the miltary and respective support services, and who have no known graves.

This includes Navy, Army, Merchantile/Merchant Marine, Forestry Companies/Units, Church Lads Brigade, (Royal) Newfoundland Constabulary, Voluntary Aid Detachment, Nursing Services, Fishermen (Coast Watchers/Spotters), and related overseas/home front support services, and their loved ones.

The journey of an unknown Newfoundland soldier is told through four commemorative events, which end with the ceremony commemorating the centennial of the National War Memorial. More details on these ceremonies appear below.

The Newfoundland National War Memorial

The Newfoundland National War Memorial was officially unveiled on July 1, 1924, by Field Marshall Douglas Haig, former Commander-in-Chief of the British forces during the First World War.*

The First World War ended with the signing of the Armistice on 11 November 1918.  As the Armistice neared, the people of Newfoundland and Labrador and their returned veterans wished to properly memorialize the fallen, so an intense community effort of commemoration was undertaken.

Work on the monument started in 1918 when the Governor of Newfoundland, Sir Charles Alexander Harris formed a Commemoration Committee under the Patriotic Association of Newfoundland. The next six years were fraught with indecision, challenges, disappointments, and delays. But in 1921, under the new and undaunted leadership of Lt. Col. Thomas Nangle, and with the strong support of the Great War Veterans’ Association of Newfoundland, the Memorial was completed.

*The Newfoundland National War Memorial was designated a National Historic Site in 2019, for its artistic significance and the fact that the memorial was inspired by John McCrae’s famous poem, In Flanders Fields.

Today, the Newfoundland National War Memorial represents the collective sacrifice and service of all Newfoundlanders and Labradorians who have served in all branches of service, during wars, conflicts, engagements, and peacekeeping efforts.

The monument is built of marble, with bronze statuary and iron fencing, and was the work of world-renowned British artists, Gilbert Bayes and Ferdinand Victor Blundstone.

Bronze plaques representing each of the following adorn the Memorial:

• The War of 1812-15
• The First World War
• The Second World War
• The Korean War
• The Afghanistan War

It is the province’s largest and most substantial work of public art, combining allegorical and realistic figures to portray Newfoundland’s “First World War effort”. It overlooks St. John’s harbour, the departure point for many of those who served and died, and the location to which many veterans, including those physically and mentally scarred, returned.

On Memorial Day, July 1, 2024, Newfoundlanders and Labradorians will proudly gather to solemnly mark the 100^th anniversary of the unveiling and dedication of the Newfoundland National War Memorial.

On that day, the remains of an unknown soldier from what was then known as the Dominion of Newfoundland, will be repatriated from Northern France. The remains will be entombed on the plateau of the Newfoundland National War Memorial, to represent all those Newfoundlanders and Labradorians who lost their lives in conflict, especially those with no known graves.

COMMEMORATIVE EVENTS

The journey of the unknown Newfoundland soldier is told through four commemorative events, which culminate with the ceremony commemorating the centennial of the National War Memorial.

• Repatriation ceremony, Beaumont-Hamel Newfoundland Memorial – Auchonvillers, France (May 25, 2024)
• Arrival in St. John’s, NL (May 25, 2024)
• Lying-in-state – St. John’s, NL (June 28 – 30, 2024)
• Reinterment of the remains and ceremony commemorating the centennial of the National War Memorial – St. John’s, NL (July 1, 2024)  

25 May 2024 at 11:00 a.m.

Transfer ceremony for the repatriation of an unknown Newfoundland First World War soldier 

Beaumont-Hamel Newfoundland Memorial, Auchonvillers, France 

The Government of France will transfer the remains of an unknown Newfoundland First World War soldier to the Government of Canada.

The Government of Canada and the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador will host this special ceremony, which is open to the public. 

25 May 2024

Arrival of the remains of the unknown Newfoundland First World War soldier (Time TBC) 

St. John’s International Airport, 100 World Parkway, St. John’s, NL 

Upon arrival in St. John’s, a hearse carrying the casket with the remains of an unknown Newfoundland soldier will follow a ceremonial route from the airport, passing several historic sites linked intrinsically to Newfoundland and Labrador’s First World War military history.

The public are invited to line the streets to pay their respects as the procession makes its way along this historic route (TBC).

28-30 June 2024

Lying-in-state of an unknown Newfoundland First World War soldier (Times TBC) 

Confederation Building, 100 Prince Philip Drive, St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador 

On the morning of June 28, the casket carrying the remains of an unknown Newfoundland soldier will arrive at the Confederation Building where it will be placed in the lobby of the East Block. The remains will lie in state for three days, until the morning of July 1.  The public are invited to view the casket and pay their respects to an unknown soldier during the official lying-in-state.

1 July 2024 at 10:30 a.m.

Official ceremonies marking the 100th anniversary of the Newfoundland National War Memorial and the re-interment of the remains of an unknown Newfoundland First World War soldier.

National War Memorial, 92 Water Street, St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador

The Government of Newfoundland and Labrador and the Royal Canadian Legion – NL Command will host a ceremony to mark the centennial anniversary of the National War Memorial in St. John’s.

The remains of an unknown First World War soldier from the then Dominion of Newfoundland will be re-interred in a custom designed tomb, to represent Newfoundlanders and Labradorians from all branches of service who have no known grave.

These ceremonies are open to the public. It should be noted, however, that due to the large number of official participants in the ceremonies and anticipated significant interest from the public, space will be limited in the vicinity of the National War Memorial.

The ceremonies will be broadcasted live. Specifics will be announced at a later date.

Following the ceremonies, the Memorial will be closed to the public for a few hours to allow the cover of the tomb to be placed into position and fastened. The Memorial will then reopen to allow the public to pay their respects.

Additional Information:

Royal Canadian Legion NL Command: http://www.legionnl.com

Veterans Affairs Canada: Repatriation of an unknown Newfoundland First World War soldier – Veterans Affairs Canada