Memorials to Canadians' Achievements & Sacrifices
This is a guide to the memorials erected for Canadians throughout the world. Since Confederation, Canadians have served around the world in military actions for the cause of peace and freedom. More than 116,000 gave their lives in the wars of the past century and their final resting-places are located in some seventy-five countries.
Canada remembers her war dead in the hearts and minds of her people, in the places where they lived and served, in cemeteries and on memorials where they are buried or commemorated. The memorials were constructed on principal battlefields and in the geographical areas of importance in wartime.
There are literally hundreds of different memorials all over the globe - regimental memorials, municipally funded memorials, memorial plaques and others. This site does not reflect all of the memorials and cemeteries located in the listed countries. It highlights those associated with a specific war, battle or campaign involving elements of Canada's forces. The Newfoundland National Memorial in St. John's, though funded locally, represents the war effort of Newfoundlanders who were not part of Confederation during either of the World Wars.
Note: Memorials inscribed with the names of Canadians who fought in other than the Canadian Armed Forces and those which pre-date the First World War are not included.
Should you be aware of a memorial which you feel has been omitted and is associated with one of these categories, we would be pleased if you could notify us.
Some pictures and travel directions on this site are courtesy of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission.
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Memorials
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Memorials
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Abbaye d'Ardenne, France
20 Canadian soldiers were executed during the Second World War in the garden of the chateau.
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Arras Memorial, France
The memorial commemorates almost 35,000 Commonwealth servicemen, including 207 Canadians, who died in the Arras sector between the spring of 1916 and 7 August 1918 and have no known grave.
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Bayeux Memorial, France
The memorial commemorates more than 1,800 men of the Commonwealth land forces, including 269 Canadians, who died in the Normandy campaign and have no known grave.
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Beaumont-Hamel Newfoundland Memorial, France
The memorial commemorates the achievements and sacrifices of all Newfoundlanders who fought in the First World War, particularly those who have no known grave.
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Bourlon Wood Memorial, France
The memorial commemorates the attack across the Canal Du Nord by the Canadian Corps on September 27, 1918 in which they suffered more than 20,000 casualties.
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Bretteville-l'Orgueilleuse, France
The monument is dedicated to the memory of the Canadian soldiers who played a part in the liberation of Bretteville-l'Orgueilleuse on June 7-9, 1944.
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Brookwood (United Kingdom 1914-1918) Memorial, England
The memorial commemorates more than 200 Commonwealth casualties who died in the United Kingdom during the First World War but for whom no graves could be found.
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Brookwood Memorial, England
Located in Brookwood Military Cemetery, it commemorates nearly 3,500 members of the Commonwealth land forces, including 204 Canadians, who died during the Second World War and have no known grave.
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Canadian Korean War Memorial Garden, South Korea
Dedicated by the people of Korea to the memory of the approximately 26,000 Canadians who served during the Korean War, 1950-1953. Of these, 516 died and 1,255 were wounded.
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Cassino Memorial, Italy
Located in the Cassino War Cemetery, the memorial commemorates over 4,000 Commonwealth servicemen, including 199 Canadians, who took part in the Italian campaign and whose graves are not known.
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Chatham Naval Memorial, England
The memorial commemorates 8,517 sailors of the First World War and 10,098 of the Second World War, including 119 Canadians, who have no known grave.
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Commonwealth Air Forces Ottawa Memorial, Canada
The memorial commemorates 809 men and women of the Commonwealth air forces, including 447 Canadians, who gave their lives during the Second World War and have no known grave.
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Commonwealth Memorial, South Korea
The memorial commemorates Commonwealth soldiers who died during the Korean War and whose burial places are unknown.
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Courcelette Memorial, France
The memorial commemorates the achievements and sacrifices of the Canadian Corps during the Battles of the Somme, September to November, 1916, which cost 24,029 Canadian casualties.
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Dury Memorial, France
The memorial commemorates the achievements and sacrifices of the Canadian Corps during the Second Battle of Arras, September, 1918.
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El Alamein Memorial, Egypt
The memorial bears the names of 11,868 members of the Commonwealth forces, including 213 Canadian airmen, who died in battles in the Middle East during the Second World War and have no known grave.
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Groesbeek Memorial, Netherlands
Located in the Groesbeek Canadian War Cemetery, it commemorates 1,030 members of the Commonwealth land forces, including 100 Canadians, who died in north-west Europe in 1944-45 and whose graves are not known.
View Map of Groesbeek Memorial, Netherlands -
Gueudecourt Newfoundland Memorial, France
It marks the spot where, in October 1916, the Newfoundlanders played a decisive role in the capture of a German strong-point named Rainbow Trench, helping them regain
confidence after the great losses at Beaumont-Hamel.
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Halifax (Fort Massey) Memorial, NS, Canada
Located within Halifax (Fort Massey) Cemetery, the memorial commemorates two servicemen who were killed in the 1917 explosion but whose bodies were not found.
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Halifax Memorial, Canada
The memorial commemorates 3,120 Canadian men and women of the army, navy and merchant navy who died at sea during the First and Second World Wars.
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Hill 62 (Sanctuary Wood) Memorial, Belgium
The memorial commemorates the achievements and sacrifices of the Canadian Corps in the defence of Ypres, April to August, 1916.
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Juno Beach Centre, France
The centre is an interactive educational facility and museum that offers information about Canada's role in the Second World War.
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Kamp Westerbork, Netherlands
Former internment site from which 102,000 people were deported to concentration camps during the Second World War.
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Le Quesnel Memorial, France
The memorial commemorates the achievements and sacrifices of the Canadian Corps in the Battle of Amiens, August, 1918.
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Liberation Forest, Netherlands
A forest of some 30,000 maple trees created as a living monument to the Canadian liberators of the Netherlands.
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Malta Memorial, Malta
The memorial commemorates almost 2,300 airmen, including 303 Canadians, who lost their lives during the Second World War while serving with the Commonwealth Air Forces and who have no known grave.
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Masnières Newfoundland Memorial, France
The memorial commemorates the achievements and sacrifices of the Newfoundland Regiment at the Battle of Cambrai, November 1917.
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Memorial to the Airmen of the Great War, France
On it are inscribed the names of all the airmen, including 46 Canadians, who died on the Western Front during the First World War and have no known graves.
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Menin Gate (Ypres) Memorial, Belgium
During the First World War, thousands of men passed through the gate on their way to the battlefields. The memorial now bears the names of 54,391 Commonwealth soldiers, including 7,061 Canadians, who died during the battles of the Ypres Salient and whose graves are not known.
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Monchy-le-Preux Newfoundland Memorial, France
The memorial commemorates the handful of gallant Newfoundlanders who held off massive German counter-attacks on April 14, 1917. Total casualties for its part in the battle numbered 460 all ranks, including 153 taken prisoner.
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National War Memorial, Canada
The memorial commemorates the response of Canadians in the First World War, the Second World War, and the Korean War. It has come to symbolize the sacrifice of all Canadians who have served Canada in time of war in the cause of peace and freedom.
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Newfoundland National Memorial (St. John's), Canada
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Passchendaele Memorial, Belgium
The memorial commemorates the achievements and sacrifices of the Canadian Corps who captured and held Passchendaele Ridge in the fall of 1917 at a cost of 16,000 casualties.
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Putôt-en-Bessin, France
The monument is dedicated to the memory of the Canadian soldiers who played a part in the liberation of Putot en Bessin on June 7, 1944.
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Rangoon Memorial, Myanmar (formerly Burma)
Located in the Taukkyan War Cemetery, the memorial bears the names of almost 27,000 men of the Commonwealth land forces who died during the campaigns in Burma (now Myanmar) and who have no known grave.
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Runnymede Memorial (Air Forces Memorial), England
The memorial commemorates by name over 20,000 airmen who were lost in the Second World War during operations and who have no known graves.
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Sai Wan Memorial, Hong Kong
Located in Sai Wan War Cemetery, the memorial bears the names of more than 2,000 Commonwealth servicemen, including 230 Canadians, who died in the Battle of Hong Kong, or subsequently in captivity, and who have no known grave.
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Singapore Memorial, Singapore
Located in Kranji War Cemetery, the memorial bears the names of over 24,000 Second World War casualties of the Commonwealth land and air forces, including 212 Canadians, who have no known grave.
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South African War Memorial (Charlottetown), Canada
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St. George's Church, Belgium
Constructed after the war in order to provide a place of worship for the many English families whose men were working on the cemeteries and memorials, the church became a memorial to British and Commonwealth troops who lost their lives in the First World War.
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St. Julien Memorial, Belgium
The memorial marks the battlefied where 18,000 Canadians withstood the first German gas attacks during the Second Battle of Ypres, April 22-24, 1915. 2,000 fell and here lie buried.
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The Canadian National Vimy Memorial, France
The memorial bears the names of 11,197 Canadian soldiers who died during the First World War and who have no known grave.
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The Man with Two Hats, Netherlands
The monument symbolizes the historic bonds between Canada and the Netherlands.
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Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, Canada
Located in front of the National War Memorial in Ottawa, the tomb was created to honour the more than 116,000 Canadians who sacrificed their lives in the cause of peace and freedom.
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Tower Hill Memorial, England
The Memorial commemorates more than 35,000 men and women of the Merchant Navy and Fishing Fleets, including 478 Canadians, who died in both World Wars and who have no known grave.
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Tyne Cot Memorial, Belgium
Located in Tyne Cot Cemetery, the memorial bears the names of almost 35,000 soldiers, including 50 Canadians, who died during the battles of the Ypres Salient and whose graves are not known.
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Victoria Memorial, Canada
Located in Victoria (Ross Bay) Cemetery, the memorial bears the names of 39 officers and men who were lost or buried at sea in the Pacific Ocean, most of them on October 30, 1918.
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Villanova War Cemetery, Italy
The cemetery contains 205 Canadian graves of the Second World War.
View Map of Villanova War Cemetery, Italy -
War Memorial (Charlottetown), Canada
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