On the top of the column is a seven foot bronze statue of a Canadian soldier in WWI battle-dress. Designed by Ivor Lewis, it was dedicated in April 1922 by Lord Byng and was moved to this small park beside the city hall in 1962. There are plaques with the names of those men who gave their lives in the two world wars and the Korean War.
The original design for the monument by W.S. Allward included a group of bronze sculptures to represent 'Humanity', consisting of a wounded youth, a resolute mother, a figure praying and a piece of crippled field artillery. However, finances got in the way and the sculptures were never made. The Brant County War Memorial Committee initiated the completion of the Memorial with seven bronze statues designed and sculptured by Helen Granger Young. The figures represent men and women who made the Supreme Sacrifice and commemorate local armed forces Veterans. The statutes were unveiled and dedicated on September 12, 1992.see more memorials at Taphophile Tragics
Wonderful momuments!
ReplyDeleteBeneath Thy Feet
thanks,
DeleteI think so too.
I like the statues in front of the monuments, they make it look far more personal - you can feel that real people lost their lives far better than just reading a list of names or looking at a severe sculpture.
ReplyDeleteand I like that there are several statues, instead of one soldier representing all.
DeleteA beautiful memorial! So love the separate figures, each with so much character! Great to see women's figures included in a war memorial!
ReplyDeletethe women do often get short shrift, so it was a surprise to see them front and (almost) centre.
DeleteI do like the "Humanity" sculptures. Such a wonderful idea.
ReplyDeleteI think it may have been worth waiting for as I like these more than the original idea. Unfortunately, many of the WWI vets would have passed on by the time it was unveiled.
DeleteThere's something very moving about war memorials depicting the men and women who took part in wars. They don't seem to stop us engaging in further conflicts, though.
ReplyDeleteThere is something wrong with your text after the pictures. It is appearing one letter at a time in a vertical line. :(
ReplyDeleteLove this memorial. It's very moving. And like others have said, I'm glad to see some female figures included. People often forget the women in war.
i like them, very detailed!
ReplyDeleteGreat post. It is good that their sacrifice has not been forgotten.
ReplyDeleteThe 'humanity' sculpture is a more relaxed rendering of the human body. with knees bent, etc. Rather than the stoic hero of the top statue. Having them down on the ground makes us empathise with them more on an equal basis than revere and 'look up to them'. In keeping with the modern times, I feel.
ReplyDeleteWhat a good observation, Julie! I like that viewpoint.
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