“The Response” was the title given to the entry submitted for consideration to be Canada’s National War Memorial (Ottawa, Ontario.). The British sculptor, Vernon March was chosen from 7 finalists in 1926, from 127 entries received the year before!
But by 1930, March died from pneumonia, so his six siblings completed the castings in 1932, but the castings were not shipped to Canada until 1937 (because the monument location was not ready!).
Originally built to the memory of the losses in The Great War (WWI), it was not unveiled until 1939 by King George VI (Queen Elizabeth II’s father.).
[2018 Addenda] My question: How many Canadians (including the television news media *know* that the March siblings completed Vernon’s works? Were they aware the monument site was not available to place the March masterpiece?
“1939-1945” (WWII) and “1950-1953” (Korea) were added in 1982. The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier was placed in front in 2000. “1899-1902” (2nd Boer War) and “2001-2014” (Afghanistan) were added in 2014.
Watching over them, Liberty holds a torch and winged Victory, a laurel wreath. These names were given by March in his submission, although more recently the figures are called Freedom and Peace, respectively.
[2018 Addenda] Oh, what I wouldn’t give to see a *LIVE* recreation of this! Reviving history – RELIVING HISTORY! – marching through the streets of Ottawa. A victory march 100 years after the end of World War I! (I think I will tweet about it.).