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Vimy Ridge Memorial Photos

=== by Bob Sutherland ===

Photographs of the unveiling ceremony of the Vimy Ridge Memorial in France, 1936.

Vimy Ridge Memorial is a park and monument built on the battlefields in France to honour the Canadian soldiers of World War I. Here are photographs of the unveiling ceremony on 26 July 1936.

war40.jpg
Photo: war40.jpg (1024 x 708 pixels), (2065 x 1427 pixels)
Photographer: Canadian Government Motion Picture Bureau.
National Film Board of Canada. Still Photography Division. National Archives of Canada. PA-148876
H.M. (His Majesty) King Edward VIII, with his top hat held down in front of him, is talking with the horse mounted commanding officer of the French Spahi guard of honour. Unveiling ceremony of the Vimy Ridge Memorial. Vimy Ridge, France, 26 July 1936.
war44.jpg
Photo: war44.jpg (1024 x 819 pixels), (1797 x 1437 pixels)
National Film Board of Canada. Library and Archives Canada. C-007492
His Majesty returns to the Monument after reviewing Guards of Honour. Unveiling ceremony of Canada's National Memorial at Vimy Ridge, France, 26 July 1936.
war43.jpg
Photo: war43.jpg (1024 x 791 pixels), (1832 x 1416 pixels)
Photographer: Canadian Government Motion Picture Bureau.
National Film Board of Canada. Still Photography Division. National Archives of Canada. PA-148873
Aerial view of the unveiling ceremony of the Vimy Ridge Memorial. Vimy Ridge, France, 26 July 1936.
war42.jpg
Photo: war42.jpg (1024 x 768 pixels), (1869 x 1401 pixels)
Photographer: Canadian Government Motion Picture Bureau.
National Film Board of Canada. Still Photography Division. National Archives of Canada. PA-148874
Widows, wives, soldiers and relatives sitting on the grass for the unveiling ceremony of the Vimy Ridge Memorial. Vimy Ridge, France, 26 July 1936.
war41.jpg
Photo: war41.jpg (1024 x 789 pixels), (1879 x 1403 pixels)
Photographer: Canadian Government Motion Picture Bureau.
National Film Board of Canada. Still Photography Division. National Archives of Canada. PA-148880
H.M. King Edward VIII unveiling the statue of a woman who represents Canada on the Vimy Ridge Memorial. Vimy Ridge, France, 26 July 1936.

The statue of the woman is standing on the edge of the platform looking down from a high wall in front of the towers. It is the opposite side of the monument from the side with the steps leading up to the towers that is shown in photos war44.jpg and war64.jpg . I have read that the statue of the woman is looking down at the battlefield and mourning Canada's heavy casualties during the Great War (latter renamed the First World War and World War I).

The flag wrapped around the platform His Majesty King Edward VIII is standing on is named the Red Ensign. Throughout Canada's first 100 years the Red Ensign was used as Canada's flag until it was replaced by our current maple leaf flag in 1965. In the early years flag makers kept changing the crest of the Red Ensign flag as new provinces were added to our confederation.

red-ensign.png
Modern design of the Red Ensign flag.