Boer War Memorial (Montreal)
Encyclopedia
The Boer War Memorial is a monument
of sculptor George W. Hill
located at Dorchester Square
in Downtown Montreal
.
(1862-1934) was unveiled at the Dominion Square on May 24, 1907. It is dedicated to the Montrealers who fought alongside the British during the Boer War
.
It is the only equestrian statue in Montreal, and atypically, is not mounted, but restrained. The Boer War Memorial faces north, towards Mount Royal Cross
, which would have been visible from the square up until 1929. Around the base of the statue, copper reliefs and the names of each battle.
The Boer War was widely unpopular in Quebec
society, viewed as an imperial war. Prime Minister of Canada
Wilfrid Laurier
opposed the war, but ultimately compromised with the proposal for militia and volunteers en lieu of conscription.
The four principal monuments – the others being the Robert Burns Memorial, Wilfrid Laurier Memorial
, and Queen Victoria Diamond Jubilee Fountain – in the square are arranged to form a five equilateral cross with the kiosk towards the Dominion Square Building
.
On July 8, 2009, the official first shovelful of dirt was lifted in the $23-million project to restore Dorchester Square and Place du Canada
at 10 a.m. near the Boer War memorial monument.
Monuments and memorials in Montreal
This is a list public art in Montreal.-List organized alphabetically:*Ahuntsic Statue, Montreal*Brother Andre Statue*Norman Bethune Memorial *Black Rock, Montreal*Boer War Memorial *Ignace Bourget Monument...
of sculptor George W. Hill
George William Hill (sculptor)
George William Hill was a Canadian sculptor. He was known as one of Canada's foremost sculptor during the first half of the 20th century, because of the numerous public memorials he made....
located at Dorchester Square
Dorchester Square
Dorchester Square is a large urban square in downtown Montreal. Together with Place du Canada, the area is just over 21,000 m2 or 2.1 ha of manicured and protected urban parkland bordered by René Lévesque Boulevard to the south, Peel Street to the west, Metcalfe to the east and Dominion Square to...
in Downtown Montreal
Downtown Montreal
Downtown Montreal is the central business district of Montreal, Quebec, Canada. It is nearly enitirely located at the southern most slope of Mount Royal and is approximately bounded by Sherbrooke Street to the north, Papineau Avenue to the east, Guy Street or until Shaughnessy Village to the west,...
.
Overview
The Boer War Memorial, sculpted by George W. HillGeorge William Hill (sculptor)
George William Hill was a Canadian sculptor. He was known as one of Canada's foremost sculptor during the first half of the 20th century, because of the numerous public memorials he made....
(1862-1934) was unveiled at the Dominion Square on May 24, 1907. It is dedicated to the Montrealers who fought alongside the British during the Boer War
Boer War
The Boer Wars were two wars fought between the British Empire and the two independent Boer republics, the Oranje Vrijstaat and the Republiek van Transvaal ....
.
It is the only equestrian statue in Montreal, and atypically, is not mounted, but restrained. The Boer War Memorial faces north, towards Mount Royal Cross
Mount Royal Cross
The Mount Royal Cross is a monument on top of Mount Royal in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. It stands at the northeastern edge of the mountain, overlooking the east end of Montreal....
, which would have been visible from the square up until 1929. Around the base of the statue, copper reliefs and the names of each battle.
The Boer War was widely unpopular in Quebec
Quebec
Quebec or is a province in east-central Canada. It is the only Canadian province with a predominantly French-speaking population and the only one whose sole official language is French at the provincial level....
society, viewed as an imperial war. Prime Minister of Canada
Prime Minister of Canada
The Prime Minister of Canada is the primary minister of the Crown, chairman of the Cabinet, and thus head of government for Canada, charged with advising the Canadian monarch or viceroy on the exercise of the executive powers vested in them by the constitution...
Wilfrid Laurier
Wilfrid Laurier
Sir Wilfrid Laurier, GCMG, PC, KC, baptized Henri-Charles-Wilfrid Laurier was the seventh Prime Minister of Canada from 11 July 1896 to 6 October 1911....
opposed the war, but ultimately compromised with the proposal for militia and volunteers en lieu of conscription.
The four principal monuments – the others being the Robert Burns Memorial, Wilfrid Laurier Memorial
Wilfrid Laurier Memorial
The Wilfrid Laurier Memorial is a monument in Downtown Montreal.- Overview :The Sir Wilfrid Laurier Memorial was constructed in 1953 by Joseph-Émile Brunet on the southern side of Dorchester Square, facing towards the United States. Wilfrid Laurier was a proponent of an early free-trade agreement...
, and Queen Victoria Diamond Jubilee Fountain – in the square are arranged to form a five equilateral cross with the kiosk towards the Dominion Square Building
Dominion Square Building
The Dominion Square Building, also known as the Gazette Building, is a landmark office building in Downtown Montreal facing Dorchester Square on its northern side...
.
On July 8, 2009, the official first shovelful of dirt was lifted in the $23-million project to restore Dorchester Square and Place du Canada
Place du Canada
Place du Canada is a large urban square in downtown Montreal.- Overview :At it is slightly larger than the adjacent Dorchester Square, with a more varied topography due to a downward slope towards De la Gauchetière Street...
at 10 a.m. near the Boer War memorial monument.