National War Memorial
National War Memorial
National War Memorial
4.5
Historic SitesPoints of Interest & LandmarksMonuments & Statues
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78 reviews
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StanleyandMarie
Ontario, Canada1,150 contributions
May 2022
This is an impressive War Memorial that is very well maintained. Great place to wander and reflect on the various wars that have occurred and be grateful for those who sacrificed all for others. There are other memorials to check out in the City as well that are a little smaller.
Written February 24, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
jenniferb360
Ottawa, Canada695 contributions
Aug 2019
We stopped by to view the National War Memorial while on a walking tour of St. John's. It stands overlooking the harbour in downtown St. John's between Water and Duckworth Streets. In the centre of the memorial, the original plaque from 1924 honours those killed during the First World War. Plaques for the Second World War, Korean War, Afghanistan, and War of 1812 have been added. The Royal Newfoundland Regiment, the Royal Naval Reserve, the Mercantile Marine and the Forestry Corps are each represented by lifelike bronze figures. Above, on a granite pedestal, a female figure holding a torch represents freedom. There were beautiful flowers in urns leading up the monument, as well as lovely hanging baskets on the street below.
Written September 20, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Newfoundlander_7
St. John's, Canada282 contributions
Jul 2017 • Solo
The National War Memorial, situated in a small park between Water Street and Duckworth Street, overlooking St. John's harbour, is a very impressive sight. What is often missed by both natives and tourists alike, is the significant word "National" It is important because at the time of the First World War, Newfoundland was a self governing independent nation, and the oldest British Colony (founded in 1583) Newfoundland only became a part of Canada in 1949. It has the distinction of being only one of two National War Memorials in Canada; it was unveiled on July 1, 1924 by Earl Haig.
Written January 21, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
JandGBG
Toronto, Canada79 contributions
Aug 2017 • Couples
also a great place to sit and take in the great view after reading the plaques about the NFLD regiment in the wars
Written August 18, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
James S
Toronto, Canada2,520 contributions
Jul 2024 • Solo
On July 1, 2024 I found myself standing in almost the exact place I had stood some forty years earlier On the National War Memorial in St John’s Newfoundland.
During the seven odd years I served in Newfoundland with the Royal Newfoundland Regiment I stood at this Memorial twice a year on November 11th, Remembrance Day and July 1st, Memorial Day in uniform as part of the service, often either in the Colour Party or the Firing Party.
This time I was there for rather solemn occasion. Aside from it being Memorial Day which Newfoundland observed as its official day of mourning and remembrance for its war dead as an independent Dominion before joining Canada 1n 1949, it was also the centenary of this Memorial first opened in 1924. It was also the official internment of Newfoundland’s own Unknown Soldier.
The National War Memorial in St John’s is unique for several reasons. First it is a national, not a provincial or municipal war memorial. As noted, it was opened on July 1, 1924 by Field Marshall Douglas Haig as a memorial to the Dominion of Newfoundland’s First World War dead. Interestingly enough not only is it Canada’s second official National War Memorial it actually predates the one in Ottawa which was dedicated and opened by King George the V in 1939.
Costs for construction were met by donations from all over the small Dominion and one of the major forces behind its construction was Lieutenant-Colonel Father Thomas Nangle, the Roman Catholic Padre of Royal Newfoundland Regiment. July 1 was chosen as the official day of remembrance and mourning as the then Newfoundland Regiment (the Royal prefix was granted in 1917) was part of the British offensive on the Somme on July 1, 1916. Near the French hamlet of Beaumont Hamel over 800 members of the Regiment went over the top towards the German lines. Within a half an hour they were decimated. Only 68 answered the roll call that evening, the rest were dead, wounded or missing.
The design of the memorial is semi circular in shape rising dramatically from Water Street near the harbour up to Duckworth Street. Here at the centre is the Cenotaph guarded by five bronze figures representing Newfoundland’s involvement in the Great War.
At the summit is the figure of a woman with a drawn sword and a torch. Around the base are four figures two representing the Royal Newfoundland Regiment, the Newfoundland Royal Naval Reserve. The other two a fisherman in oilskins and a lumberjack with axe represent those who served in the Merchant Marine and the Forestry Corps. On the front of the Cenotaph is a cross and a plaque dedicated to the war dead by a grateful people. Since 1924 new plaques honouring those lost in the Second World War, Kora and Afghanistan have been added.
After the official reinternment service, the tomb of the Unknow Soldier sits directly in front of the cenotaph. The tomb is made of granite and the top of locally anorthosite and labrodorite.
The installation of the tomb was part of a 6.1 Million dollar refurbishment planned for the centennial of the War Memorial. In addition, more accessible walkways and gardens were added and the five statues refurbished. Incidentally despite the refurbishment the bayonet of the RNLDR Soldier is still bent askew as I recall it was forty years earlier.
Access to the War Memorial is free and it is open to the public all day and night throughout the year. Unlike the one in Ottawa there is no guard, ceremonial or otherwise mounted here. Visitors are free to approach and pay respects to the tomb and perhaps offer a moment of silent reflection. They should also be respectful of this place and what it stands for.
During the seven odd years I served in Newfoundland with the Royal Newfoundland Regiment I stood at this Memorial twice a year on November 11th, Remembrance Day and July 1st, Memorial Day in uniform as part of the service, often either in the Colour Party or the Firing Party.
This time I was there for rather solemn occasion. Aside from it being Memorial Day which Newfoundland observed as its official day of mourning and remembrance for its war dead as an independent Dominion before joining Canada 1n 1949, it was also the centenary of this Memorial first opened in 1924. It was also the official internment of Newfoundland’s own Unknown Soldier.
The National War Memorial in St John’s is unique for several reasons. First it is a national, not a provincial or municipal war memorial. As noted, it was opened on July 1, 1924 by Field Marshall Douglas Haig as a memorial to the Dominion of Newfoundland’s First World War dead. Interestingly enough not only is it Canada’s second official National War Memorial it actually predates the one in Ottawa which was dedicated and opened by King George the V in 1939.
Costs for construction were met by donations from all over the small Dominion and one of the major forces behind its construction was Lieutenant-Colonel Father Thomas Nangle, the Roman Catholic Padre of Royal Newfoundland Regiment. July 1 was chosen as the official day of remembrance and mourning as the then Newfoundland Regiment (the Royal prefix was granted in 1917) was part of the British offensive on the Somme on July 1, 1916. Near the French hamlet of Beaumont Hamel over 800 members of the Regiment went over the top towards the German lines. Within a half an hour they were decimated. Only 68 answered the roll call that evening, the rest were dead, wounded or missing.
The design of the memorial is semi circular in shape rising dramatically from Water Street near the harbour up to Duckworth Street. Here at the centre is the Cenotaph guarded by five bronze figures representing Newfoundland’s involvement in the Great War.
At the summit is the figure of a woman with a drawn sword and a torch. Around the base are four figures two representing the Royal Newfoundland Regiment, the Newfoundland Royal Naval Reserve. The other two a fisherman in oilskins and a lumberjack with axe represent those who served in the Merchant Marine and the Forestry Corps. On the front of the Cenotaph is a cross and a plaque dedicated to the war dead by a grateful people. Since 1924 new plaques honouring those lost in the Second World War, Kora and Afghanistan have been added.
After the official reinternment service, the tomb of the Unknow Soldier sits directly in front of the cenotaph. The tomb is made of granite and the top of locally anorthosite and labrodorite.
The installation of the tomb was part of a 6.1 Million dollar refurbishment planned for the centennial of the War Memorial. In addition, more accessible walkways and gardens were added and the five statues refurbished. Incidentally despite the refurbishment the bayonet of the RNLDR Soldier is still bent askew as I recall it was forty years earlier.
Access to the War Memorial is free and it is open to the public all day and night throughout the year. Unlike the one in Ottawa there is no guard, ceremonial or otherwise mounted here. Visitors are free to approach and pay respects to the tomb and perhaps offer a moment of silent reflection. They should also be respectful of this place and what it stands for.
Written July 21, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
travelbob1
New Windsor, NY1,134 contributions
Aug 2022
Quite a well designed and maintained memorial. As part of a walking tour this place makes for a nice restful spot for both a break and some reflection.
Written September 3, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
AlbertaChristiegirl
Calgary, Canada2,160 contributions
Jun 2019
My husband & I spent some time at the National War Memorial before boarding the Hop on Hop off bus tour. It's central location on Water & Duckworth Streets make it an easy place to visit.
The history at this memorial goes back to 1583, when Sir Humphrey Gilbert claimed Newfoundland for England.
The memorial was unveiled in 1924 and has been remarkably well maintained.
There are alot of plaques to read about the history and with such a beautiful location, you can sit and reflect while enjoying the scenery.
We are glad we took the time to stop and enjoy this park & war memorial while visiting St. John's.
The history at this memorial goes back to 1583, when Sir Humphrey Gilbert claimed Newfoundland for England.
The memorial was unveiled in 1924 and has been remarkably well maintained.
There are alot of plaques to read about the history and with such a beautiful location, you can sit and reflect while enjoying the scenery.
We are glad we took the time to stop and enjoy this park & war memorial while visiting St. John's.
Written September 14, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Darlene H
Indiana, PA70 contributions
Jun 2019
A large area with the monument on one side of the road and history boards on the other side. There are beautiful flowers It is near the harbour for nive views.
Written August 20, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Christophe B
Quebec City, Canada978 contributions
May 2019
The National War Memorial is a beautiful reminder of the wars participated in. Well located and situated on a Jellybean looking street.
Written May 28, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
hatcat575
Medicine Hat, Canada65 contributions
Aug 2018 • Couples
It’s great to see a monument of this nature honouring those who fought for our freedom. It honours those from many wars. Well done!!
Written August 28, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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