New lighting has been installed at the National War Memorial in St. John’s, designed and created based on the original light globes that would have been in place when the Memorial was first constructed in 1924. The creation and installation of the globes has been a team effort between the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador, Memorial University and the Royal Canadian Legion – NL Command.
The idea to create and install the new lights arose when the Royal Canadian Legion – NL Command discovered the last original National War Memorial globe in their archives. The replacement of the modern globes to ensure appropriate historical interpretation at the site became a reality as a commemorative project to celebrate Memorial University’s 100th anniversary in 2025.
Now replicated on site at the National War Memorial, the globes are in the shape of flames which tie directly to Lieutenant-Colonel Thomas Nangle’s vision for the site, which was based on Lieutenant-Colonel John McCrae’s poem In Flanders Fields (which references the torch).
In 2022, the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador, in partnership with the Royal Canadian Legion – NL Command, the Government of Canada and the Commonwealth War Graves Commission announced the refurbishment of the province’s National War Memorial, including the incorporation of a tomb, to commemorate the 100th anniversary of its official unveiling in 1924.
On July 1, 2024, Newfoundlanders and Labradorians gathered at the National War Memorial in St. John’s to mark the memorial’s centennial anniversary. This historic event included the laying to rest of an unknown Newfoundland First World War soldier whose remains were repatriated from Northern France.
The site is the only National War Memorial and the only other tomb of the unknown solider outside our nation’s capital in Ottawa. It is also a National Historic Site and a Provincial Historic Site.
Quotes
“The new replica light globes are a wonderful addition to the National War Memorial, and just in time for Memorial Day. Since its refurbishment, the site just shines – the addition of the tomb of the unknown soldier, the new trees, plants and flowers – everything looks fantastic. I’d like to thank our partners on this initiative – the Royal Canadian Legion – NL Command and Memorial University.”
Honourable Fred Hutton
Minister of Tourism, Culture, Arts and Recreation
“The National War Memorial holds great significance for the people of our province, and the restoration of the site and the repatriation of the unknown solider were meaningful initiatives. Adding the new lighting is another element that brings the site even closer to its original design.”
Honourable Elvis Loveless
Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure
“Memorial University is honoured to contribute to this meaningful initiative. As Newfoundland and Labrador’s university, our institution is a living memorial to those who lost their lives on active service during the First World War and subsequent conflicts. Today, our entire university community carries that legacy. The team in the Department of Technical Services took great pride in fabricating the new torch globes to match the originals and to install them at the National War Memorial. Contributing to this project during Memorial University’s centennial celebration holds deep significance for everyone involved.”
Dr. Tana Allen
Vice-President (Research), Memorial University
“The Royal Canadian Legion – NL Command will forever be proud of its significant efforts, on behalf of veterans and their families, in relation to the refurbishment of the Newfoundland National War Memorial, Memorial’s 100th Anniversary, and the repatriation of the remains of Newfoundland’s First World War unknown soldier. On behalf of NL Command, I sincerely thank the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador and Memorial University for their efforts in replicating the original war memorial globes. The globes are an important issue for accurate historical interpretation of our iconic National War Memorial. Lest we forget.”
Gerald Budden
President, Royal Canadian Legion – NL Command
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