1936 Canadian Vimy Ridge Memorial Pilgrimage Bronze Medal France-Canada WW1

Description: 1936 Canadian Vimy Ridge Memorial Pilgrimage Bronze Medal France-Canada WW1This medaillion was minted as a souvenir gift from the French government to the visitors (pilgrims) to the 1936 unveiling of the Vimy Ridge monument.The Battle of Vimy Ridge took place from 9th April to 12th April 1917 near Arras in the Nord-Pas-de-Calais region of France during the First World War. It was the first occasion whereupon all four divisions of the Canadian Expeditionary Force participated in a battle as a cohesive formation. The corps suffered 10,602 casualties: 3,598 killed and 7,004 wounded. The Battle of Vimy thus became a Canadian nationalistic symbol of achievement and sacrifice. King Edward VIII unveiled the Canadian National Vimy Memorial on 26th July 1936, in his memoirs he states 'The Canadian Government had acquired from the French nation Vimy Ridge; there they had erected a noble monument in memory of the Canadians who lie buried in France..... I had been invited to inaugurate the monument in the presence of 6,000 Canadian veterans who had made a pilgrimage across the Atlantic for the ceremony'. This took place in the presence of French President Albert Lebrun, 50,000 or more Canadian and French veterans, and their families. In his speech, the King said: 'By a gesture which all understand, the soldiers especially, the laws of France have decreed that here Canada shall stand for ever. We raise this memorial to Canadian warriors. It is the inspired impression in stone, chiselled by a skilled Canadian hand, of Canada's salute to her fallen sons.' William Lyon Mackenzie King, the Prime Minister of Canada, transmitted a message to the crowd by Transatlantic telephone.The dedication of the Canadian War Memorial at Vimy took place almost exactly midway through the brief reign of Edward VIII and was one of the most visible appearances he made as the British Sovereign. A 1936 Canadian Vimy Memorial Pilgrimage Medal - Bronze, French-made, cornucopia hallmarked and marked "BRONZE" on the edge, obverse illustrating a standing Mother Canada flanked by vertical banners inscribed "CANADA" and "FRANCE", the date of the Pilgrimage "26-VII-1936" (July 26, 1936) over her shoulder, engraver marked "A DE POSSESSE" and sculptor marked "SCULPT. WALTER'S ALLWARD", inscribed "PELERINAGE CANADIEN" and "CANADIAN PILGRIMAGE" on either side of her feet and "VIMY" below, reverse illustrating the Vimy Memorial with emanating rays in the background, sculptor marked "W.S ALLWARD . SCULPTOR. AZC.", inscribed "CANADIAN WAR MEMORIAL ON VIMY RIDGE" above and "IN MEMORIAM SEXAGINTO MILLIUM CANADIENSIUM QUI ANNO DOMINI MCMXIV-MCMXVIII ARMIS VITRA MARE VITAM PRO PATRIA VITRO DEDIDERUNT" below. It is on the territory of the neighboring commune of Givenchy-en-Gohelle that the Vimy memorial is located, the most important Canadian monument to the victims of the First World War. The monument stands atop Hill 145 which Canadian soldiers fought for in April 1917. It pays homage to the role of Canadians during this conflict, using stone figures symbolizing the values defended and the sacrifices made. Erected between 1925 and 1936 on the site of the Battle of Vimy Ridge, this work of art is the work of Canadian artists, Canadian architect and sculptor Walter Seymour Allward. The two pylons, representing Canada and France, culminate 40 meters above the base of the monument. Due to the altitude of the site, the highest figure - the allegory of peace - dominates the plain of Lens by about 110 meters. The land on which the memorial sits and the hundred hectares surrounding it were given to the Canadian people by France in 1922. This is in gratitude for the sacrifices made by more than 66,000 Canadians during the Great War and in particular for the victory won by Canadian troops in conquering Vimy Ridge during the month of April 1917. Going forward in front of the monument, one can notice a statue of a veiled woman In good condition considering the age! Age related wear and tear as seen in the pictures. Measurements 50mm diameter x 5mm thick. Weighs 58.7 grams Sold as is in the photographs. Kindly feel free to write me with any questions or to request additional photos.

Price: 200 USD

Location: Montreal, Quebec

End Time: 2024-12-06T20:08:10.000Z

Shipping Cost: 20 USD