The Unknown Soldier

The Unknown Soldier, the iconic statue standing atop the Red Deer Cenotaph is a designated Municipal and a Provincial Historic Resource. Since 1922, the Cenotaph has stood as a memorial and tribute to those who “made the supreme sacrifice” in the wars. Of the 850 young men and women from Red Deer and district who left to serve in the distant Great War, 118 of these were killed during the war. On May 20, 1920 the Memorial and Community Building Committee met to discuss the need for a memorial monument.

The committee selected the centre of Ross Street as the site for a memorial. Major Frank Norbury, a sculptor in Edmonton, was chosen to sculpt the Unknown Soldier. Local architect, C.A. Julian Sharman designed the base for the Cenotaph. In the early 1920s, over $5,000 in donations were raised to cover the entire cost of the project. The Cenotaph was unveiled on September 15, 1922.

Parchment rolls with the names of those killed in the First World War were placed in the copper box in the pedestal. Another roll lists the names of all those from Red Deer and district who served in the First World War. After the Second World War the bronze plaque on the Cenotaph was updated to include those who died during the Second World War and a parchment listing their names was placed in the pedestal. In 1988, the plaque was updated again to include those who died in the Korean War.

In 2011, the area surrounding the Cenotaph was enhanced to create Veterans’ Park, a place for people to relax, while learning about the Red Deerians and Central Albertans that have served in wars and peace-keeping missions.

Inscription

[front plaque/plaque du devant]

IN PROUD AND GRATEFUL REMEMBRANCE OF THOSE WHO MADE THE SUPREME SACRIFICE IN THE WARS

1914 – 1918

1939 – 1945

1950 – 1953

[rear plaque/plaque de l’arrière]

IF YE BREAK FAITH WITH US WHO DIE WE SHALL NOT SLEEP THOUGH POPPIES GROW IN FLANDERS FIELDS

Ce mémorial, érigé par la Ville de Red Deer, est dédié aux morts de la Première et de la Seconde Guerres mondiales et de la guerre de Corée. Il a été érigé à la mémoire des hommes et des femmes du centre de l’Alberta qui ont combattu pendant la Première Guerre mondiale. Plus de 800 citoyens du district de Red Deer ont servi outre-mer; 114 d’entre eux sont tombés sur les champs de bataille d’Europe. C’est le major Frank Norbury, un sculpteur architectural de l’Université de l’Alberta, qui a réalisé la statue de soldat en pierre de Tyndall. Le piédestal a été dessiné par un architecte de l’endroit, C.A. Julian Sharman. Le monument a été inauguré officiellement par le gouverneur général du Canada, lord Byng of Vimy, le 15 septembre 1922. Les noms des soldats de la localité tués au combat pendant la Seconde Guerre mondiale ont été ajoutés sur des rouleaux à l’intérieur du mémorial. La statue de soldat fait face à l’ouest, dans la direction de la gare, ce qui symbolise la hâte des soldats canadiens à rentrer au pays après avoir combattu sur les champs de bataille de France.

Le texte de l’inscription figure dans la section anglaise.