1921 – Design for ‘The Brooding Soldier’, Saint Julien, Belgium

The runner-up in a competition organised by the Canadian Battlefields Memorials Commission, and intended to be replicated at seven locations across the battlefields of Europe. Announced in October 2021, unveiled on 8 July 1923 by Prince Arthur, the Duke of Connaught, the memorial was constructed at 11 metres tall. The ‘Brooding Soldier’ column rises from a low circular flagstone terrace and is sculpted at its top to form the bowed head and shoulders of a Canadian soldier. The soldier’s hands resting are on the butt of his down-turned rifle in a pose used as gesture of mourning and respect for the fallen performed at funerals and services of remembrance. Designed by Regina architect Frederick C. Clemesha.

The Jury commented: “On the other hand the design of Mr. Clemesha, while belonging to the same school of thought, is its exact opposite in this respect. It is of a very simple shape which can readily be used in several places and under varying conditions of site. Further it is the only design submitted to which this applies. Nevertheless its character is striking and highly individual. It is very unlikely that any other nation will erect a monument like it, a remark which could not safely be made of any of the designs submitted except these two.”

“The design of Mr. Clemensha will be used for monuments to be erected at Passchendale, St. Julien, Vimy Ridge, Dury Crossroads, Bourbon Woods, Conrcelette and Hospital Woods. The assessors were Frank Darling, Royal Architectural Institute of Canada; Prof, C H. Reilly, Royal Institute of British Architects; and Paul P. Cret, Society of Architects of France. Mr. Percy E. Nobbs, Montreal, acted in the capacity of professional advisor to the Commission.”
Construction, November 1921

After pressure from the Canadian Prime Minister of the day, Vimy Ridge received the main memorial by Walter S. Allward, and ‘The Brooding Soldier’ was constructed at Saint Julien. The remaining six memorials ultimately each received a more modest memorial designed under the supervision of architect and advisor to the Battlefield Memorials Commission, Percy Erskine Nobbs.

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