Saturday 8 April 2017

Vimy Memorial

With my Great War interest and my work with reproduction Canadian infantry uniforms you think I'd be in France right now for this weekend of commemorative hype. I tried to get a sort of invitation from some military connections I have, but nothing came through. 

Perhaps I'm just licking the wounds of my disappointment but I do find that I'm also glad not to be standing with 20,000 people recalling a battle that has been called a defining Canadian moment by some, and a nationalistic myth by others.




The original monument by architect/sculptor Walter Allward was more a memorial to loss than a beakon to national pride. As I listen to radio coverage for this weekend, and read the news papers, I'm struck that while the official view contains a nod to imperialistic jingoism, the individuals quoted speak of the loss of ancestors as something monumental in its tragedy. I suspect 20,000 people will each take from this weekend their own profound feelings of a loss and death that touches them personally. Collectively they will come away struck by the sheer number of others who share those thoughts and emotions.



Vimy will retain its meaning as long as our memories are of the individuals. As soon as we clump the experience as "national" we have missed the mark. At that point, I wonder, will the fragmented bodies of thousands be turning in their mass battlefield grave?


The photos show the War Monument in Ottawa and a half scale plaster model made in preparation for the full sized sculptures at Vimy.