Soldiers' Monument 1912
Municipality/Province: London, ON
Memorial number: 35042-033
Type: Shaft, statues
Address: 580 Clarence Street
Location: Victoria Park
GPS coordinates: Lat: 42.9885717 Long: -81.248695
Submitted by: Nancy Braley. The Royal Canadian Regiment Museum.
Photo credit: Tim Laye, Ontario War Memorials
Soon after the South African War, there was talk of erecting a monument in honour of those who served and those who died in the war. While the monument would eventually hold solitary significance for the South African War, early conversations included ideas of dual significance honouring the late Queen Victoria II, who had passed away earlier that year, in addition to the South African War soldiers. From 1901 to 1904, the City of London raised funds for the monument. In February 1905, the London chapters of the Imperial Order Daughters of the Empire took on full responsibility for the memorial's planning and fundraising. They examined 20 designs for the monument and, through a vote, one design was selected in November 1908.
On May 29, 1912, with approximately 15,000 people attending, the Duke of Connaught unveiled the Soldiers' Monument to honour the dead of the Boer War. The monument was re-dedicated in 2000, when additional plaques were added to commemorate the Royal Canadian Regiment.
The monument was designed and sculpted by George W. Hill of Montreal. A bronze statue of a Royal Canadian Regiment soldier in South African War era uniform is stepping forward with a rifle in hand. His head is turned, calling to his brothers in arms to pursue the enemy’s location. The statue illustrates the self-sacrificing loyalty of the Canadian soldiers. Colonel J.W. Little obtained a complete Canadian South African War era outfit from the government which was used by the sculptor as a model for optimal accuracy. Below, the soldier, a statue of a maiden of victory reaches up and offers the soldier laurels that are arranged in the traditional victor’s crown. She is the symbol of peace and triumph.
George William Hill was born in Shipton, Eastern Townships, in 1861. He learned to carve marble in his father’s company, after he graduated from college. Between 1889 and 1894, he left Quebec to study sculpting at the École nationale des beaux-arts and Académie Julian in Paris. When he returned to Montreal, he opened a studio and worked with architect Robert Findlay and brothers Edward and William S. Maxwell. Known for his public monuments and war memorials, he is now considered one of the most important Canadian sculptors of the early twentieth century.
Hill designed several monuments commemorating Canadians lost in the South African War, including the Strathcona and South African Soldiers' Memorial in Quebec and Boer War Soldiers Monument in Ontario. At the end of the First World War, Hill was awarded several contracts by towns and cities wishing to pay homage to citizens who had died on the battlefields. Between 1920 and 1930 he designed these monuments: Westmount Cenotaph, Magog Cenotaph, Argenteuil Cenotaph, Richmond Cenotaph, Sherbrooke War Memorial in Quebec; Pictou County War Memorial in Nova Scotia; Soldier's Monument, The Soldier and Nurses’ Memorial in Ontario; and the Soldier's Monument in Prince Edward Island.
Inscription found on memorial
[front/devant]
PRO PATRIA
"IN HONOUR OF THE MEN
FROM THE LONDON DISTRICT,
WHO FOUGHT FOR THE EMPIRE
IN SOUTH AFRICA,
AND IN MEMORY OF THOSE
WHO FELL."
1899 - 1902
This badge is presented to
The Royal Canadian Regiment
by the City of London
1 July 2000
to commemorate the
re-dedication of the
South African War Memorial
Donated by
Imperial Order
Daughters of the Empire
(IODE)
Re-dedicated July 2000
[right side/côté droit]
GEO. W. HILL.
MONTREAL
PTE. D.L. MOORE R.C.R. I
FEB 14TH 1900
PTE. J.A. DONEGAN 26TH M. LT. I
FEB 18TH 1900
PTE. R. SMITH 26TH M. LT. I
FEB 18TH 1900
PTE. W.G. ADAMS 7TH REGT. FUS.
APRIL 16TH 1900
PTE. F.G.W. FLOYD 7TH REGT. FUS
MAY 10TH 1900
PTE. E. MULLINS R.C.R. I
[back/arrière]
PAARDEBERG
DRIEFONTEIN
JOHANNESBURG
DIAMOND HILL
BELFAST
WITTEBERGEN
RELIEF OF MAFEKING
[left side/côté gauche]
ROYAL CANADIAN DRAGOON
ROYAL CANADIAN ARTILLERY
CANADIAN MOUNTED RIFLES
STRATHCONA'S HORSE
ROYAL CANADIAN INFANTRY
CANADIAN FIELD HOSPITAL
Street view
Note
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