Memorial tablets to the British Empire dead of the First World War facts for kids

A special tablet in Laon Cathedral remembering British Empire soldiers from World War I.

Between 1923 and 1936, the Imperial War Graves Commission placed special memorial tablets in churches and cathedrals across France and Belgium. These tablets honored the soldiers from the British Empire who died in the First World War. They were put in towns where British or Empire troops had stayed during the war.

The very first tablet was placed in Amiens Cathedral in 1923. It remembered 600,000 soldiers from Britain and Ireland. Later tablets had a new design. They showed the British Royal Coat of Arms along with symbols for India and other parts of the Empire: South Africa, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and Newfoundland. The famous writer Rudyard Kipling wrote the words on these tablets. They spoke of "a million dead" from the Empire.

These tablets were made by Reginald Hallward and designed by H. P. Cart de Lafontaine. Twenty-eight were put up in total, mostly in France and some in Belgium. The words were in English and French in France, and English and Latin in Belgium. Important people like members of the royal family and army generals helped unveil them.

A similar tablet was unveiled in Westminster Abbey in 1926. It remembered soldiers buried in the "lands of our Allies." Copies of this Westminster tablet were sent to churches in Canada (Hamilton and Vancouver) and Iraq (Baghdad). Other copies are in museums in France (Delville Wood), Australia (Fremantle), and the UK (Liverpool).

Why Were These Tablets Made?

The Royal Coat of Arms of the United Kingdom.

The Imperial War Graves Commission was created in 1917. After World War I ended in 1918, the Commission planned how to remember the soldiers who died. They were in charge of war graves. But it was not clear who would create bigger memorials for all soldiers.

At first, different groups handled different types of memorials. But by 1921, it was decided that the Imperial War Graves Commission would be responsible for all general war memorials. One idea they took on was to place special tablets in French cathedrals. These cathedrals had a special connection to British troops during the war.

A team from the Commission worked on this project. It included Lieutenant General Sir George Macdonogh, Sir Herbert Creedy, the writer Rudyard Kipling, and the Commission's founder, Fabian Ware. The tablets were designed by architect H. P. Cart de Lafontaine and made by sculptor Reginald Hallward.

Cart de Lafontaine spoke French well. He talked with the church leaders to arrange the tablet placements. The plan grew to include cathedrals in Belgium too. Some churches were badly damaged in the war, so the tablets had to wait until repairs were done. The team also had to figure out the best spot for each tablet inside the cathedrals. Some tablets were designed to be horizontal instead of vertical to fit the space.

The first tablet, made for Amiens Cathedral, showed the Royal Coat of Arms. It mentioned the armies of Great Britain and Ireland.

All the later tablets had a different design. They included symbols from all the dominions (countries like Canada, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, and Newfoundland) and India. This standard design had the Royal Coat of Arms surrounded by the shields of these five Dominions. The Indian Empire was shown by the symbol of the Order of the Star of India. The words on the tablets included mottos from the Royal Coat of Arms: Honi soit qui mal y pense and Dieu et mon droit. The tablets were made of gilded (gold-colored) and colored gesso (a type of plaster) set in stone. They also had a border with carved roses. The Westminster tablet is about 5 feet 10 inches tall.

• Symbols of the Dominions
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  Canada

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  South Africa

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  New Zealand

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  Newfoundland

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  Australia

Where Were the Tablets Placed?

The tablets were placed in many cathedrals and churches in France, Belgium, and other countries between 1923 and 1936. Here are some of the places and dates they were unveiled:

Amiens Cathedral: The First Tablets

Amiens Cathedral is a very large church in France. After the war, many groups wanted to put memorials there. Eleven memorials are listed near the cathedral's south door. Six of these remember British or Dominion troops, including the very first Commission tablet.

The first memorial was for the Royal Canadian Dragoons. It was dedicated in 1919. Then came a tablet for the Australian Imperial Force in 1920. A tablet for South African forces was suggested by their Prime Minister. A tablet for Newfoundland soldiers was unveiled in 1922. The main Commission tablet was unveiled in 1923 by Prince Arthur. Finally, a tablet for New Zealand soldiers was unveiled in 1923.

Words on the Amiens Prototype Tablet

Tablet in Amiens	English	French
	A.M.D.G. IN SACRED MEMORY OF SIX HUNDRED THOUSAND MEN OF THE ARMIES OF GREAT BRITAIN & IRELAND WHO FELL IN FRANCE & BELGIUM DURING THE GREAT WAR 1914 – 1918 IN THIS DIOCESE LIE THEIR DEAD OF THE BATTLES OF THE SOMME 1916 THE DEFENCE OF AMIENS 1918 & THE MARCH TO VICTORY 1918	A LA MEMOIRE DES 600,000 SOLDATS DES ARMEES DE LA GND BRETAGNE & DE L'IRLANDE TOMBEES AU CHAMP D'HONNEUR EN FRANCE ET EN BELGIQUE 1914 – 1918 DANS CE DIOCESE REPOSENT LEURS MORTS DES BATAILLES DE LA SOMME 1916 DE LA DEFENSE D'AMIENS 1918 ET DE LA VICTOIRE 1918

The letters A.M.D.G. stand for a Latin phrase meaning "To the Greater Glory of God." The inscription mentions the Somme Offensive of 1916, the defense of Amiens in 1918, and the final push to victory in 1918. A copy of this Amiens tablet is at the Commonwealth War Graves Commission headquarters in the UK.

• Other Amiens Memorial Tablets
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  Canada

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  South Africa

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  New Zealand

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  Newfoundland

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  Australia

Tablets in France

The first standard tablet in France was unveiled at Notre Dame de Paris in 1924. The Prince of Wales (who later became King Edward VIII) unveiled it. Many French leaders were there too. The tablet was covered by a British flag. After it was unveiled, the Prince gave a message from King George V to the French President.

Words on Standard Tablets in France

Tablet in Paris	English	French
	TO THE GLORY OF GOD AND TO THE MEMORY OF ONE MILLION DEAD OF THE BRITISH EMPIRE WHO FELL IN THE GREAT WAR 1914 – 1918 AND OF WHOM THE GREATER PART REST IN FRANCE	A LA GLOIRE DE DIEU ET A LA MEMOIRE DU MILLION DE MORTS DE L'EMPIRE BRITANNIQUE TOMBES DANS LA GRANDE GUERRE 1914 – 1918 ET QUI POUR LA PLUPART REPOSENT EN FRANCE

Many similar tablets were unveiled in French cathedrals in the mid-1920s. The tablet at Rouen Cathedral was placed on the north wall of the chapel for Joan of Arc. General Nevil Macready unveiled it in 1925. The Archbishop of Rouen spoke about the long history between Normandy and England. Macready ended his speech by saying, "Glory to Joan of Arc! Glory to our dead!"

The tablet at Arras Cathedral was the last one to be put up in France, in 1936. Its unveiling was delayed because the cathedral needed repairs after the war. Important people from Australia, New Zealand, Canada, and India were there. The British ambassador and French government officials also attended.

A copy of the standard French tablet is also displayed at the Commonwealth War Graves Commission headquarters in the UK.

• Other French Memorial Tablets
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  Le Mans

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  Meaux

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  Nancy

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  Nantes

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  Senlis

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  Beauvais

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  Béthune

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  Orléans

Tablets in Belgium

The first tablets in Belgium were unveiled in Mons and Mechelen in 1926 and 1927. Then came the tablet in Brussels at the Cathedral of St. Michael and St. Gudula in 1927. This was just before the famous Menin Gate memorial was unveiled in Ypres. Earl Haig unveiled the Brussels tablet.

Many Belgian and British leaders were at the Brussels ceremony. Earl Haig gave a speech in French. He honored the Empire's dead and the brave Belgian soldiers who fought at the Battle of Liège. Two more tablets were unveiled in Belgium: in Antwerp in 1928 and in Ypres in 1931. The Ypres tablet was delayed because St Martin's Cathedral needed to be rebuilt.

Words on Standard Tablets in Belgium

Tablet in Brussels	English	Latin
	TO THE GLORY OF GOD AND TO THE MEMORY OF ONE MILLION DEAD OF THE BRITISH EMPIRE WHO FELL IN THE GREAT WAR 1914 – 1918 MANY OF WHOM REST IN BELGIUM	AD MAIOREM DEI GLORIAM ET IN MEMORIAM MILLIENS MILLIUM NOSTRORUM QUI EX IMPERIO BRITANNICO UNDIQUE COORTI ANNO DOMINI MCMXIV – MCMXVIII IN BELLO PRÆTER OMNIA MEMORANDO VITAM PRO PATRIA PROFUDERUNT QUORUM PARS MAGNA IN TERRA BELGICA DORMIUNT HOC MONUMENTUM EXSTRUXERE TOTIUS IMPERII GENTES ATQUE COMMUNITATES

The tablets in Belgium have words in English and Latin. This was decided with the Belgian church leaders. Latin was used instead of the two official languages of Belgium. The Latin text is not a direct translation of the English.

Westminster Abbey Tablet

The tablet for Westminster Abbey in London looked like the others. But it had different words. It was unveiled in 1926. The Prime Ministers from the Dominions were in London for a big meeting, so they attended. The tablet was displayed in the Abbey's main area. Many important people were there, including war veterans who had lost their sight.

The Prince of Wales unveiled the tablet. He had also served in the war. He said: "I unveil this tablet in honour of our comrades, from every land under the Crown, who fell in the Great War. Time cannot dim our remembrance of them." He also thanked the Allies for giving land for the graves. After a short service, a wreath was laid, and the hymn O Valiant Hearts was sung.

Westminster Tablet Inscriptions

Replica of Westminster tablet	Original	Post-Second World War
	TO THE GLORY OF GOD AND TO THE MEMORY OF ONE MILLION DEAD OF THE BRITISH EMPIRE WHO FELL IN THE GREAT WAR 1914 – 1918 THEY DIED IN EVERY QUARTER OF THE EARTH AND ON ALL ITS SEAS AND THEIR GRAVES ARE MADE SURE TO THEM BY THEIR KIN THE MAIN HOST LIE BURIED IN THE LANDS OF OUR ALLIES OF THE WAR WHO HAVE SET ASIDE THEIR RESTING PLACES IN HONOUR FOR EVER	TO THE GLORY OF GOD AND TO THE MEMORY OF THE DEAD OF THE BRITISH EMPIRE WHO FELL IN THE TWO WARS 1914 AND 1939 THEY DIED IN EVERY QUARTER OF THE EARTH AND ON ALL ITS SEAS AND THEIR GRAVES ARE MADE SURE TO THEM BY THEIR KIN THE MAIN HOST LIE BURIED IN THE LANDS OF OUR ALLIES WHO HAVE SET ASIDE THEIR RESTING PLACES IN HONOUR FOR EVER

The Westminster tablet was later moved to the Chapel of the Holy Cross, also called St George's Chapel. This chapel was dedicated to those who died in the war. It is near the Tomb of the Unknown Warrior. Every year since 1933, flowers from Commission cemeteries in Belgium and France are laid at the tablet.

Fabian Ware, the Commission's founder, said these tablets were made so that "the total losses of the British Empire might thus be visibly recorded." He saw them as a symbol of the British Commonwealth nations working together.

After the Second World War, the words on the Westminster tablet were changed to include those who died in that war. The tablets in Belgium and France were not changed.

Copies and Later History

After the Westminster Abbey tablet was unveiled, people asked for copies. Some full-size copies were made for churches. Smaller color prints were given to veteran groups. For example, a print is in Liverpool, UK, and another in Fremantle, Australia. A copy of the standard French tablet is at the Delville Wood Memorial museum in France.

Two copies of the Westminster tablet are in Canada. One is in the Church of the Ascension in Hamilton, Ontario. It was unveiled in 1927. The other is in Christ Church Cathedral in Vancouver. It was unveiled in 1928 on the tenth anniversary of the end of World War I. A copy was also put in St George's Anglican Church in Baghdad, Iraq, in the 1930s.

Vancouver Tablet and Inscription

Tablet	Inscription
	TO THE GLORY OF GOD AND TO THE MEMORY OF COMMONWEALTH MEMBERS OF THE SERVICES WHO GAVE THEIR LIVES 1914 – 1918 1939 – 1945 1950 – 1953 THEY DIED IN EVERY QUARTER OF THE EARTH IN THE AIR AND ON THE SEA "THEIR BODIES ARE BURIED IN PEACE BUT THEIR NAME LIVETH FOR EVERMORE"

Like the original tablets, the copies sometimes had their words updated after World War II. The Vancouver tablet was updated to include the Second World War (1939-1945) and the Korean War (1950-1953).

Over the years, some tablets in France and Belgium needed repairs. Some were damaged by dampness or during the Second World War. Reginald Hallward's daughter, Patricia Hallward, made the replacement tablets. The tablet in St George's Anglican Church in Baghdad was damaged by shrapnel during the war in Iraq in 2003. Parts of its words were damaged, but the beginning and end were still readable.