Battle of Lundys Lane Soldiers Monument

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Battle of Lundy's Lane Soldier's Monument

Then: Battle of Lundy's Lane Soldier's Monument

Unveiling of the Lundy's Lane Soldiers' Monument.

Following the Battle of Lundy's Lane on July 25, 1814, the only commemoration of the bloodiest, single-day battle in Canadian history, was the scatter of privately-run observation towers which allowed tourists to gaze over the torn landscape. The landscape had once been a productive farm, before over 1,000 men were killed or wounded on its battle-ravaged fields.

In 1895, the Lundy's Lane Historical Society, with the support of the Canadian federal government, erected an obelisk to commemorate those who fell at Lundy's Lane. In preserving the memory of that bloody July day, the Historical Society was also engaging in the early commemoration of Canadian history. The country was not yet 30 years old at the time of the monument's construction. This structure was established in equal measure as a memorial to the fallen soldiers of the battle, and as a monument to the nascent Canadian nation. The historical society was like many civic groups in the post-confederation period - dedicated to establishing, then-modern, social principles within their community, by means of shared public history.

The monument is built on Drummond Hill where the fighting was concentrated for over six hours during the battle. The dedication of the monument took place in 1895, on the 81st anniversary of the battle. Attended by the Lieutenant-Governor of Ontario, Sir George Airey Kirkpatrick, the ceremony began with toasts to Queen Victoria's health at 12:30, and was followed by a number of speeches by members of the historical society, the Lieutenant-Governor, and officers of the Canadian Army.

Years later, on the 1914 centenary of the battle, a procession passed along Lundy's Lane in an act of commemoration. The parade included militia, soldiers, notable politicians, and Six Nations tribal chiefs.

The late 19th century was a time of fervent nationalism, which was expressed by placing nationally-significant historical events in elevated contexts. In the case of the Lundy's Lane monument, the battle was quite literally elevated with the construction of the 40-foot granite obelisk. By commemorating the halt of the final American foray into Upper Canada, the strength and legitimacy of the new Canadian state was, quite literally, realized in stone. The limestone base was quarried from Queenston, several kilometres to the south, and the granite obelisk was quarried in Stanstead, Quebec. The materials paid homage to the two dominant groups of European settlers who settled the nation celebrated by the monument.

In addition to the soaring granite spire, there is a limestone crypt underneath of the monument, where two oak caskets hold the remains of British soldiers who fell during the battle.

Now: Battle of Lundy's Lane Soldier's Monument

The monument still stands in the graveyard of the Drummond Hill Presbyterian Church, and was supplemented by the Lundy's Lane Battlefield Commemorative Wall in 2004. The Bicentenary of the Battle was commemorated in July of 2014.