- Ottawa Memorial
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Ottawa Memorial Commonwealth War Graves Commission 
The Ottawa Memorial (Ottawa, Canada)For missing World War II Canadian air personnel Unveiled 1 July 1959 Location 45°26′27.08″N 075°41′45.90″W / 45.4408556°N 75.696083°WCoordinates: 45°26′27.08″N 075°41′45.90″W / 45.4408556°N 75.696083°W near Ottawa, Canada The Ottawa Memorial is a monument in Ottawa, Ontario, that "commemorates by name almost 800 men and women who lost their lives while serving or training with the Air Forces of the Commonwealth in Canada, the West Indies and the United States and who have no known grave.[1] " Located on Sussex Drive overlooking the Ottawa River near the Rideau Falls, the monument was unveiled in 1959 by Elizabeth II, Queen of Canada. It is maintained by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission.[2]
The memorial lists the names, ranks and nations of origin of almost 800 service personnel, ordered by the year of their death, on two semi-circular walls that surround a small pool containing a sculpture of the world with an eagle perched on top. Plaques in English and French contain the following text:
“ In the Second World War air power played an increasingly important role in offensive and defensive capacities.
At the start of the war there was a shortage of aircraft and trained pilots. The United Kingdom was considered too vulnerable to attack and so training centres were established elsewhere. Bases in North America trained over 137,000 Commonwealth air crew, making a vital contribution to the Allied victory, while much needed aircraft and supplies were ferried to the United Kingdom from the United States and Canada by both civilian and air force personnel.
This memorial, unveiled by Queen Elizabeth II in 1959, commemorates by name almost 800 men and women who lost their lives while serving or training with the Air Forces of the Commonwealth in Canada, the West Indies and the United States and who have no known grave. Their names are arranged according to year of death, force and rank.
The Commonwealth War Graves Commission is responsible for the maintenance of graves and memorials in some 150 countries which commemorate around 1,700,000 members of the Commonwealth forces who died in the two world wars. The war dead commemorated here and elsewhere include those of several different faiths and of none.” See also
- British Commonwealth Air Training Plan
- Royal Canadian Air Force
- Royal Air Force
- Royal Australian Air Force
- Monarchy in Ontario
References
- ^ Gilbert Guinn (October 2007). The Arnold Scheme: British Pilots, the American South and the Allies' Daring Plan. The History Press. p. 158. ISBN 9781596290426. http://books.google.com/books?id=m6IA84_UHsQC&pg=PA158. Retrieved 20 June 2011.
- ^ Arthur Bousfield; Garry Toffoli (1 September 2002). Fifty years the Queen: a tribute to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II on her golden jubilee. Dundurn Press Ltd.. p. 111. ISBN 9781550023602. http://books.google.com/books?id=w8l5reK7NjoC&pg=PA111. Retrieved 20 June 2011.
External links
Categories:- Canadian military memorials and cemeteries
- 1954 works
- World War II memorials in Canada
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