The iconic Cross of Sacrifice, designed by Sir Reginald Blomfield in 1918 for the Imperial (now Commonwealth) War Graves Commission, was a convenient design to use beyond the cemeteries. Quebec City adopted the design for its war memorial. It was unveiled on 1 Jul 1924 by Governor General, Julian Byng, Baron of Vimy in honour of the 219 Quebecois killed in WW1.
The Cross of Sacrifice is located at the corner of Grande-Allée est and av. George VI Avenue at the entrance to the Plains of Abraham park (Parc des Champs de Bataille). According to the National Battlefields Commission, “a token quantity of French soil was buried under the knoll on which the cross stands, on the side facing the Grande Allée” before the monument was erected. According to some sources, the soil is from Vimy. The years for WW2 and the Korean War were subsequently added to the monument. Je me souviens – I remember – is the Quebec provincial motto.
A nos morts glorieux – To our glorious dead
1914 – 1918
1939 – 1945
1950 – 1953
Je me souviens
Great War 100 Reads 