reginald blomfield

1927What is the 'first collective memorial' erected along the former Great War front in France and Belgium

The Menin Gate Memorial in Ieper, Belgium, stands as the first collective memorial erected along the former Great War front in France and Belgium, designed by Sir Reginald Blomfield for the Imperial War Graves Commission. Unveiled on 24 July 1927 by Field Marshal Lord Plumer, this imposing triumphal arch honors the roughly 90,000 British and Commonwealth soldiers who have no known grave, with the names of 54,897 casualties—including 7,000 Canadians—engraved across its panels. Its enduring legacy is kept alive each evening at 8 p.m. through the moving Last Post Ceremony, performed by local buglers since 1928, making it one of the most visited and continuously commemorated memorials on the Western Front. In 2015, the memorial marked a remarkable milestone with the 30,000th sounding of the Last Post, a testament to the lasting power of remembrance.

1899What is a 'Cathedral Cross'?

The St. James' Cathedral Cross, located in the park surrounding the Cathedral Church of St. James in downtown Toronto, stands as a unique war memorial commissioned by the Anglican Cathedral and designed by renowned architect Henry Sproatt. Erected specifically for the 1924 Remembrance Day services, this "preaching cross" commemorates parishioners who died in the First World War, with the names of 48 fallen men inscribed at its base. Unlike the typical Cross of Sacrifice, Sproatt chose to reflect the Cathedral's Gothic Revival style, making the memorial architecturally distinctive. In 2025, the St. James' Cathedral Cross marks its 101st anniversary, continuing to serve as the centerpiece of Toronto’s annual Remembrance observances.