Books of Remembrance

Books of Remembrance (Canada)
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
William Lyon Mackenzie King examines the first Book of Remembrance in 1942.
For members of the Canadian Forces and Canadian Merchant Navy killed on active service in wartime, and in other conflicts
Unveiled	August 3, 1927
Location	near Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
Designed by	James Purves 1929-1940; Alan Beddoe 1940-75; ...

The seven Books of Remembrance housed in the Memorial Chamber in the Peace Tower of the Canadian Parliament Buildings in Ottawa are illuminated manuscript volumes recording the names of members of the Canadian Forces and Canadian Merchant Navy killed on active service in wartime, and in other conflicts. There are seven separate Books, beginning with the first listing the names of the dead from the First World War.

The display case for the first Book was designed by John A. Pearson, architect of the Peace Tower, and made by Bromsgrove Guild Limited (Great Britain) and Robert Mitchell Company in 1928. Made of bronze, enamel and other metals, it is decorated with four kneeling angels and a ribbon encircling a laurel. It rests on an altar of English Hoptonwood limestone that was a British gift to Canada, situated at the centre of the chamber. Later books are displayed on altars of Hoptonwood stone and bronze, decorated with poppies, located against the walls of the chamber.

The pages of each of the Books are turned every day of the year at 11 a.m., so that every name is on display to visitors at least once during each calendar year.

During the First World War on July 1, 1917, Prime Minister Robert Borden announced a Memorial Chamber would be included in the soon-to-be constructed Peace Tower, part of the rebuild of the Centre Block of the Canadian parliament buildings after a 1916 fire. He said that it would be a "memorial to the debt of our forefathers and to the valour of those Canadians who, in the Great War, fought for the liberties of Canada, of the Empire, and of humanity".