Canada Guide
Newfoundland and Labrador
The War Memorial
A short flight of granite steps climbs up to the War Memorial, which was unveiled in 1924 in front of a crowd of thousands. The island suffered grievous losses in World War I, especially during the battle of the Somme, but nevertheless the imperial-minded authorities placed the figure of Victory on top and invited Field Marshal Haig to unveil it, the very man whose ineptitude many soldiers blamed for the slaughter. Before the battle Haig wrote "I feel that every step in my plan has been taken with the Divine help" – a monstrous hoot considering the imperial army sustained nearly 60,000 casualties on the first day.