Commonwealth Wars Memorial

Point Pleasant Park

Much of the city of Halifax stands on a peninsula, bordered by Bedford Basin to the north, Halifax Harbour to the east, and the Northwest Arm to the west.  The peninsula's isthmus is between the head of the Northwest Arm and Bedford Basin.  Shaped like an arrowhead, the peninsula's southernmost tip points out to the broad mouth of the harbour and the Atlantic.

Along the shore of this southern tip is the large white stone cross of the Commonwealth Wars Memorial, also known as the Sailor's Memorial.  A monument to those thousands of Canadian seaman who gave their lives in both World Wars and in the Korean Conflict.  The huge stone cross is lit by spotlights at night; given the history of Halifax and the reason for its founding, this is perhaps the most moving of the city's many monuments.  Due to its location, it is the first and the last thing that any sailor now sees as they arrive at or depart from Halifax Harbour.

This memorial is also featured on the very excellent tribute site of the HMS Hood Association.  Three Hood crewmen are listed on the Sailors' Memorial panels. They are Midshipmen Thomas Beard, Francis Jones and Christopher Norman of the RCN.  Also, there were just under 20 men from Newfoundland lost in Hood. However, at the time of their deaths, Newfoundland was not part of Canada. Thus, the Newfoundlanders are not listed on the Halifax Memorial.