Arche commémorative

On 25 June 1923, as part of that year's graduation day activities, the Governor-General of Canada, His Excellency Viscount Byng of Vimy, officially laid the cornerstone of the Memorial Arch. Sealed in a copper box within the stone were: nominal rolls of Cadets and Staff, pamphlets concerning the Arch, the Royal Military College Review of May 1923, Canadian coins and stamps, and the Roll of Honour Designed by architect John M. Lyle, Esq., of Toronto and funded by the Royal Military College Club of Canada with monies raised from ex-cadets and other friends of the College.

The Arch was unveiled on June 15, 1924, by Mrs. Joshua Wright, mother of cadets Major G.B. Wright, DSO, RCE, and Major J.S. Wright, who gave their lives in the First World War. It commemorates ex-cadets who lost their lives in the Great War and earlier conflicts. The great accomplishments of the Canadian Military College in the Great War was marked by 982 cadets who fought, earning 2846 decorations and mentions, and one ex-cadet earning the Victoria Cross. 206 of these soldiers returned wounded; 170 did not return at all. 

Constructed of Indiana limestone, the Arch is 46 feet high and 42 feet wide. The base is adorned with reliefs depicting ancient Roman war trappings. The Arch was funded by contributions from the Ex-Cadet Club of Canada and other supporters. Originally, the Memorial Arch was situated over the entrance to the Royal Military College in Kingston, serving as the gateway to the college until it was moved in 1979 and now sits near the water. Stones around the Arch list the names of people who have donated to its construction.

In 1948, two granite pylons were added to the sides of the Arch, bearing bronze tablets to commemorate Cadets lost between 1926 and 1945 and list the battles in which they fought. This addition was funded by post Second World War alumni and unveiled by the Governor General of the time, Viscount Alexander of Tunis. A major refurbishment, led by alumni John Stewart and Ed Murray, was completed in 2001 in an effort to ensure that the Arch could continue reflecting the significance of the sacrifices the fallen cadets are remembered for. The East pylon was further updated in 2006 with a plaque that records the names of ex-cadets who have died in active service since 1945.

[front/devant]
TO THE GLORIOUS MEMORY OF THE EX-CADETS
OF THE ROYAL MILITARY COLLEGE OF CANADA
WHO GAVE THEIR LIVES FOR THE EMMPIRE
ERECTED ANNO DOMINI MCMXXIII

(flanked on one side by the Dominion and on the other side by the College coat-of-arms, superimposed on spear shafts and other ancient trappings of war)

(flanquée d’un côté par le Dominion et de l’autre par les armoiries du Collège, superposées sur tiges de lance et d’autres objets de guerre anciens)

[right sdie/côté droit]
KUT EL AMARA
GALLIPOLI
HILL 70
PASSCHENDAELE
CAMBRAI
AMIENS
ARRAS
DROCOURT-QUÉANT
CANAL DU NORD

WORLD WAR II BATTLES
BATTLE OF THE ATLANTIC
BATTLE OF BRITAIN
BURMA DIEPPE
HONG KONG
LOMBARDY PLAIN
NORMANDY
ACTIVE SERVICE 1926-1945
INDIA 1926
NORTH AFRICA
NORTH WEST GERMANY
THE PACIFIC
PAS DE CALAIS
THE RHINE
SICILY
SOUTHERN ITALY

[back/arrière]
TRUTH, DUTY, VALOUR,

BLOW OUT YOUR BUGLES OVER THE RICH DEAD,
THERE'S NONE OF THESE SO LONELY AND POOR OF OLD,
BUT DYING HAS MADE US RARER GIFTS THAN GOLD.

(a helmeted head standing in high-relief from the keystone; the inner faces of the archway carry two large rectangular tablets of bronze, standing on designs in low-relief, showing forth the names of the Gallant Dead)

(une tête coiffée d’un casque se démarquant en haut-relief de la clé de voûte; les faces intérieures de l’arcade portent deux grandes tablettes rectangulaires en bronze, portées par des motifs en bas-relief, indiquant les noms des morts galants)

[left side/côté gauche]
Hark how the drums beat up again for all true soldiers, Gentlemen.

THE EMIN PASHA RELIEF EXPEDITION 1887-1890
WEST AFRICA
SOUTH AFRICA 1899-1901
GREAT WAR 1914-1918 BATTLES

SOUTH AFRICA
MONS
MARNE
AISNE
YPRES
FESTUBERT
LOOS
SOMME
VIMY

JE ME SOUVIENS

[plaque]
PRO DEO ET PATRIA

ERECTED BY THE ROYAL MILITARY
COLLEGE CLUB OF CANADA
ANNO DOMINI 1923

THE EMIN PASHA RELIEF EXPEDITION 1887-1890
52 CAPTAIN W.G. STAIRS

WEST AFRICA 1892
62 CAPTAIN W.H. ROBINSON

SOUTH AFRICA 1899-1901
99 CAPTAIN T.W. CHALMERS 146 CAPTAIN G.A. HENSLEY
134 CAPTAIN J.H. LAVRIE 322 LIEUT. J.W. OSBORNE352 LIEUT. C.C. WOOD
GREAT WAR 1914-1919

[left column/colonne de gauche]
626 MAJ A.W. AGNEW
951 CAPTAIN E.D. ASHCROFT
1095 LIEUT.

1095 LIEUT. C.K. AYLEN
696 LIEUT. D.P. BELL-IRVING
940 CAPTAIN H.E. BETHUNE, M.C.
1016 LIEUT W.O. ??

[right column/colonne de droite]
1266 2ND. LIEUT. F.H. ANDERSON. M.C.
1007 CAPTAIN M.C. AVERY. M.C.
427 CAPTAIN E.C. BAKER
765 CAPTAIN J.K. BERTRAM
LT-COL H.L. BODWE.., C.M.G. D.S.O.
??

[stone/pierre]
THIS STONE WAS LAID
BY
HIS EXCELLENCY
THE RT HON GENERAL LORD BYNG OF VIMY
GCB KCMG MVO
GOVERNOR GENERAL AND COMMANDER IN CHIEF
25TH JUNE 1923