A Final Rest for the Unknown Newfoundland Soldier

July 09, 2024 - Defence Stories

Author: Captain Wyatt Shorter, Public Affairs Officer, CJOC

On July 1st, the remains of the Unknown Newfoundland Soldier were finally laid to rest with dignity and full honors at the Newfoundland National War Memorial on the occasion of the monument’s centenary. This solemn duty was conducted in partnership with Veterans Affairs Canada, the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador, the Royal Canadian Legion, and the Canadian Border Services Agency. This soldier’s remains will serve as an important representation of members from this community who made the ultimate sacrifice in service to what was then the Dominion of Newfoundland and later a cornerstone of Atlantic Canada. Over ten thousand Newfoundlanders, Labradorians, and other Canadians who turned out to line the streets and attend the ceremony are a testament to the proud, enduring history of service in the region, and the close ties that many Atlantic Canadians have to the Canadian Armed Forces. It was very moving for members of the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) to experience the immense support of folks from all over the country who travelled to St. John’s for the event.

Operation DISTINCTION, the CAF support to the Government of Canada’s Military History Commemoration Program, provides Defence Team members the opportunity to honour the legacies of those who served Canada in countless operations throughout our nation’s history. Bringing this unknown soldier home, and ensuring his final dignified laying to rest, was a profoundly impactful experience for members of the Op DISTINCTION Task Force, many of whom have personal connections to folks who served the Dominion of Newfoundland in the two World Wars, and Canada thereafter.

The work for this event had started long before July first. On May 25, at a ceremony in Beaumont-Hamel, France, the soldier’s remains were officially transferred from French to Canadian stewardship in a deeply moving ceremony. They were transported to St. John’s where, following a procession through the city on streets packed with mourners, they were kept secure until the unveiling of the tomb. The CAF, along with partner agencies, worked tirelessly to ensure each event was conducted with the deepest respect, dignity, and grace.

As only one of two national war memorials in Canada, the Newfoundland National War Memorial serves as a place for all Canadians to pay their respects to members who never had the opportunity to come home from conflicts around the globe. We encourage everybody as able to visit the memorial and the tomb if they are in St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador. For more information, please visit the memorial’s website at this link.