Get The Facts: Newfoundland and Labrador’s National War Memorial
Soldier representing the men of the Royal Newfoundland Regiment, east wing of the National War Memorial in St. John’s, Newfoundland
Downtown St. John’s, NL is home to the Newfoundland and Labrador’s National War Memorial.
Here are ten facts and strange stories about the monument, its construction and significance.
One: National Memorial
Why does St. John’s, NL have a National War Memorial?
The War Memorial in downtown St. John’s is officially called the National War Memorial. The Memorial, which sits on King’s Beach between Duckworth and Water Streets, was nearing its 25th anniversary when Newfoundland joined Canada. It was established as a memorial to Newfoundland and Labrador’s war dead before Newfoundland and Labrador was a part of Canada.
Not coincidentally, the location is very near the site Sir Humphrey Gilbert claimed Newfoundland for England in 1583.
In 2019 The Memorial was recognized as a National Historic Site of Canada.
Two: Beaumont-Hamel
National War Memorial, St. John’s
The National War Memorial was unveiled on July 1, 1924 — 8 years, to the day, after the Newfoundland Regiment was decimated in the Battle of the Somme at Beaumont-Hamel. 801 members of The Regiment took part in the campaign but, by the next morning only 68 survived to answer the roll call.
Three: The Great War
The monument was conceived as a tribute Newfoundlanders who fought in the Great War but in subsequent years plaques were added marking Newfoundland’s contributions to the Second World War, Korean War, conflict in Afghanistan, and the War of 1812.
Four: Crowd-Funded
Excerpt from The Evening Telegram, August 11, 1921
The National War Memorial was, at least in part, crowd-funded — it was built by public subscription. Those eager to see the monument completed urged to public to give as much as they could. In one newspaper appeal, Newfoundlanders were chastised for finding money to spend on a visiting phrenologist yet the monument remained underfunded.
The monument cost more than $20 000. An impressive sum in the early 1920s.
Newfoundland & Labrador national War Memorial, Winter, 2023
Five: Five Statues
The Memorial features 5 impressive bronze statues. There are four male figures at the base representing The Newfoundland Royal Navy Reserve, the Royal Newfoundland Regiment, The Merchant Marine and the Forestry Corps.
Six: Spirit of NFLD?
The fifth figure stands atop the monument and she has had multiple identities, having been variously called Victory, Liberty and the Spirit of Newfoundland.
Spirit of Newfoundland atop the National War Memorial, St. John’s
Seven: Sword
The female figure, who we will call the Spirt of Newfoundland, is holding a sword. The sword is said to represent Liberty. It is not raised, but is held behind her at her waist. This was to symbolize that even when Newfoundland was not at war, the nation was ready to rise and fight, if needed.
Eight: Torch
In her left hand the Spirit of Newfoundland’s holds a torch. The torch is said the be the torch of Purity. It was once planned that this torch be a leading light, to guide ships safely into the St. John’s Harbour. This plan was never realized. Sadly.
Nine: Blundstone
The statues were designed by Ferdinand V. Blundstone and Gilbert Bayes. Blundstone was a Swiss-born sculptor who rose to prominence in England. He is also responsible for the Gnome plaque on the Connaught Stone in Bowring Park. Probably.
-
The city’s literature says it was the work of renowned British sculptor Edmund Blundstone. This would seem to be an error… partially because there is no renowned British sculptor named Edmund Blundstone. (Annoyingly, the only newspaper coverage I can find of the unveiling of The Gnome keeps referring to the sculptor as Mr. Blundstone.)
Ten: It Was Lickable
National War Memorial Stamp
The completed monument was an impressive structure, not only for its statuary but its prominent hillside position. In fact the hill was reshaped to make the monument more impressive and imposing, Newfoundlanders were so pleased with the final result that they decided to place an image of the memorial on a 10-cent stamp in 1928.
