Cross of Sacrifice
Municipality/Province: Ottawa, ON
Memorial number: 35061-004
Type: Cross - granite
Address: 280 Beechwood Avenue
Location: Beechwood Cemetery, National Military Cemetery, Section 27
GPS coordinates: Lat: 45.447819 Long: -75.658396
Submitted by: Commonwealth War Graves Commission
The Commonwealth War Graves Commission installed a Cross of Sacrifice in 1957 in Beechwood Cemetery in Ottawa, Ontario. The Cross of Sacrifice, designed by Sir Reginald Blomfield in 1918, is one of two iconic features designed by Commonwealth War Graves Commission architects. Crosses of Sacrifice are found around the world in Commission cemeteries and in public cemeteries, such as Beechwood, where there is a concentration of War Dead. There are over 210 War Dead buried in Beechwood Cemetery alongside thousands of Veterans.
The Cross of Sacrifice is an imposing bronze medieval longsword, blade down, on a stark white cross. It is one of the most enduring symbols of the bravery and sacrifice made by the men and women of the Commonwealth during the World Wars. It is located in the centre of the Field of Honour in Section 27 where War Dead and Veterans are buried. In 1958, the Commission installed the Cremation Memorial in a rock garden adjacent to Section 27 where 31 War Dead are commemorated. A ceremony to dedicate the Cross of Sacrifice and Cremation Memorial was held in May 1959.
This Cross of Sacrifice in Beechwood Cemetery is one of 26 installed by the Commission across Canada.
Canada's military community has been burying its members throughout Beechwood Cemetery for more than 100 years. In 2007, Section 27, along with Section 103 and the military plots in Sections 29 and 19 were developed into Canada's National Military Cemetery.
Inscription found on memorial
"TO THE HONOURED
MEMORY OF THOSE
SAILORS, SOLDIERS
AND AIRMEN WHO
GAVE THEIR LIVES
FOR THEIR COUNTRY
IN TWO WORLD WARS
AND WHO LIE BURIED
IN THIS CEMETERY"
Street view
Note
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