| Books of Remembrance (Canada) | |
|---|---|
| Commonwealth War Graves Commission | |
&sq=&lang=&file=File:Books_of_Remembrance.jpg) William Lyon Mackenzie King examines the first Book of Remembrance in 1942. | |
| For members of the Canadian Forces and Canadian Merchant Navy killed on active service in wartime, and in other conflicts | |
| Unveiled | August 3, 1927 |
| Location | near Ottawa, Ontario, Canada |
| Designed by | James Purves 1929–1940; Alan Beddoe 1940–1975; ... |
The eight Books of Remembrance (French: Livres du Souvenir) housed in the Memorial Chamber in the Peace Tower of the Canadian Parliament Buildings in Ottawa are illuminated manuscript volumes recording the names of members of the Canadian Forces and Canadian Merchant Navy killed on active service in wartime, and in other conflicts.[1] There are eight separate books, beginning with the first to be commissioned listing the names of the dead from the First World War.[2]
The display case for the first book was designed by John A. Pearson, architect of the Peace Tower, and made by Bromsgrove Guild Limited (Great Britain) and Robert Mitchell Company in 1928. Made of bronze, enamel and other metals, it is decorated with four kneeling angels and a ribbon encircling a laurel.[3] It rests on an altar of English Hoptonwood limestone that was a British gift to Canada, situated at the centre of the chamber.[2] Later books are displayed on altars of Hoptonwood stone and bronze, decorated with poppies, located against the walls of the chamber.[2]
The pages of each of the books are turned every day of the year at 11 a.m. by a constable of the Parliamentary Protective Service, so that every name is on display to visitors at least once during each calendar year.[2]
- ^ "Monuments of the First and Second World Wars". Archived from the original on 2011-08-10. Retrieved 2011-11-21. Canadian Encyclopedia Monuments, World Wars I and II
- ^ a b c d Tasker, John Paul; Morrissey, Marie (November 11, 2015). "Remembrance Day: Parliament Hill's Centre Block stands as a memorial to fallen soldiers". CBC News. Retrieved November 12, 2015.
- ^ "Books of Remembrance display case". National Inventory of Military Memorials. National Defence Canada. 2008-04-16. Archived from the original on 2016-03-04.