Boer War Memorial (Montreal) facts for kids
| Monument aux héros de la guerre des Boers | |
The monument in 2009
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 Location in Montreal
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| Coordinates | 45°29′58.63″N 073°34′15.44″W / 45.4996194°N 73.5709556°W |
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| Location | Dorchester Square |
| Designer | (sculpture) George W. Hill (pedestal) Edward Maxwell and William S. Maxwell |
| Material | (scuplture) bronze (pedestal) granite |
| Opening date | May 24, 1907 |
| Dedicated to | Heroes of the Boer War |
The Boer War Memorial (also known as Monument aux héros de la guerre des Boers in French) is a special monument. It honors the brave people who fought in the Boer War. You can find this monument in Dorchester Square in downtown Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
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About the Boer War Memorial
This monument was officially shown to the public on May 24, 1907. It stands in what was then called Dominion Square. Today, we know this area as Dorchester Square.
Who Designed the Monument?
The amazing bronze statue was made by a sculptor named George W. Hill. He was born in 1862 and passed away in 1934. The strong granite base, called a pedestal, was designed by Edward Maxwell and William S. Maxwell.
What Does the Monument Say?
The monument has important words carved into it. One side thanks Lord Strathcona and Mount Royal. He helped by creating and equipping a special horse regiment for the war. This showed his support for a united empire.
The other side remembers the Canadians who bravely fought and died in the South African War. It also honors the courage of all their comrades.
A Unique Statue
The Boer War Memorial is the only statue in Montreal that shows a person on horseback. However, it's a bit unusual because the horse is not shown galloping. Instead, it looks like it's being held back.
The statue faces north, looking towards the Mount Royal Cross. This cross was easy to see from the square until 1929. Around the bottom of the statue, you can see detailed copper pictures. These show scenes from the war and list the names of important battles.
Not far from here, in Place du Canada, you'll find Montreal's memorial for the First World War.
The Boer War and Canada
The Boer War was fought far away in South Africa. Many people in Quebec did not support this war. They saw it as a war about controlling other lands, not about protecting Canada.
Wilfrid Laurier, who was the Prime Minister of Canada at the time, also disagreed with the war. But he found a way to compromise. Instead of forcing people to join the army, Canada sent volunteers and militia members.
Remembering the Soldiers
For about 20 years after the war, Canadians would gather on February 27. This day was known as "Paardeberg Day." People would meet around monuments like this one to pray and honor the soldiers.
This tradition continued until the end of the First World War. After that, a new day of remembrance began. On November 11, people started observing Armistice Day, which we now call Remembrance Day.
The Square's Design
The Boer War Memorial is one of four main monuments in Dorchester Square. The others are the Robert Burns Memorial, the Wilfrid Laurier Memorial, and the Queen Victoria Diamond Jubilee Fountain. These four monuments are placed in a way that forms a cross shape. The kiosk in the square completes this design.
Recent Restoration Work
On July 8, 2009, a big project began to fix up Dorchester Square and Place du Canada. This restoration cost about $23 million. It helped make the area around the Boer War Memorial even more beautiful.
