Unknown soldier to be reburied at National War Memorial in St. John’s
ST. JOHN’S, N.L. — An unknown Newfoundland First World War soldier buried in France will be repatriated and buried at the National War Memorial in St. John’s.
The provincial and federal governments have received approval from the Commonwealth War Graves Commission in London for a project commemorating the centennial anniversary of the National War Memorial.
The project will see an unknown First World War soldier repatriated from Northern France.
The soldier will be reburied in a specifically designed tomb at the National War Memorial in St. John’s to represent Newfoundlanders and Labradorians who served in all military branches.
The project started in 2019 as a partnership between the Royal Canadian Legion's Newfoundland and Labrador Command and the provincial government.
The legion spearheaded the reburial portion of the project in 2020.
Frank Sullivan, member of the Royal Canadian Legion's Newfoundland and Labrador Command, said Rev. Thomas Nangle of the Newfoundland Regiment first requested the repatriation of an unknown soldier at the National War Memorial in St. John's in 1919.
However, the request was never actioned, Sullivan said.
"With this approval to repatriate an unknown soldier by Sir Bill Rollo and the Commonwealth War Graves Commission for the rededication in 2024, (Nangle's) vision, his dream will be complete,” said Sullivan.
Veterans Affairs Canada is working with the Commonwealth War Graves Commission to determine the appropriate cemetery, and ultimately grave, to exhume from.
The project will be unveilled on July 1, 2024, coinciding with the centennial of the Newfoundland National War Memorial and the 108th anniversary of the Battle of the Somme and the Battle of Beaumont-hamel.