Books of Remembrance and Memorial Tablet
Municipality/Province: Vancouver, BC
Memorial number: 59026-032
Type: Books of Remembrance, tablet
Address: Burrard Street and W 15th Avenue
Location: Canadian Memorial United Church
GPS coordinates: Lat: 49.2580818 Long: -123.1459623
Submitted by: Victoria Edwards. Canadian Memorial United Church.
Photo credit: Canadian Memorial United Church and Centre for Peace
On display in Canadian Memorial United Church are the only replicas of the Books of Remembrance outside of those housed in the Peace Tower in Ottawa. The books contain the names of all Canadians who made the supreme sacrifice in the First and Second World Wars, Korean War and include a book for Newfoundland and a book for Merchant Marines.
A large decorative tablet was to contain the niche to enclose the Book of Remembrance, architect R.P. Twizell had put a great deal of time and thought into the design. It would contain the Book of Remembrance upon the pages of which would be inscribed the names of those who lost their lives with the Canadian Forces in the First World War. Reverend Lieutenant-Colonel George Fallis, CBE, ED, DD, interviewed the Honourable Samuel L. Howe, one of the great public-spirited pioneers of British Columbia, to see if he would erect the tablet. With the architect’s drawings in hand they stood in the chancel where the decorative tablet would be erected. Honourable Howe revealed the greatness of his manhood when he said: "Do you think I am worthy to do this?" Finally he said: "I shall be honoured to do as you request, but I make one stipulation, that it shall be beautiful, and worthily done." Reverend Lieutenant-Colonel Fallis’ notes state that the Honourable Samuel Howe had a son that died in the war, but no evidence can be found to support this.
The Book of Remembrance for the First World War was presented at a service on November 1, 1946, by the Honourable Douglas Abbott, then Minister for National Defence. E.R. McTaggart and Matthew Sutton received the treasured volume on behalf of the Board of Trustees, and Reverend G. Harrison Villett, BA, DD, placed it on the High Altar. The Books for the Second World War were presented on March 8, 1959, by the Honourable George Pearkes, VC.
The Books are on view at all times in the carved Memorial Tablet at the front of the church. More of these books are housed in the table in either the east or west transept. The tablet was carved from a block of Caen stone - a stone used in many cathedrals - by Thomas Garrow. On either side of The Books, as if guarding them, appear the angels Michael and Gabriel, angels of Justice and Peace. The outer border interweaves the maple leaf and the poppy. The inner border is a grape vine, representing sacrifice. Behind the angels of Peace and Justice are a rose, thistle, shamrock, and fleur-de-lis, representative of Canada’s settlers.
Inscription found on memorial
[memorial tablet/tablette]
THEY SHALL NOT GROW OLD, AS
WE WHO ARE LEFT GROW OLD.
AGE SHALL NOT WITHER THEM
NOR THE YEARS CONDEMN.
WITH THE COME DOWN OF THE
SUN AND IN THE MORNING
WE WILL REMEMBER THEM.
1914 1918
Erected by the Hon. and Mrs. S.L. Howe.
Street view
Note
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