WORLD WAR I MEMORY WORKSHOP

THE TOMB OF THE UNKNOWN SOLDIER

The Procedure:

Many nations honour the tradition of a tomb that contains the remains of an unidentified soldier. Although this idea pre-dates World War I, it is no doubt associated with that war beyond all others.

Here are some questions to consider as you follow through on your research:

What is the history of the origin of the tomb or tombs?
What is the design of the tomb and what is the story behind this design? How does it fit in with other buildings or other monuments located nearby?
How was the body selected?
What was the nature of the inaugural ceremony and what rituals have been held at the tomb since? Have there been changes here over the decades and, if so, what is the significance of these changes?
How has the tomb intersected with the military history of the nation in question? Have bodies been added or removed from the tomb? How have successive wars been integrated into the meaning of the memorial?
To what extent has the tomb become a site not only of national but also of international memory?
What controversies have been associated with the tomb? Has it been the site of any political protests?
How would you compare and contrast this tomb with those of other nations?
What are the larger meanings of the tradition of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier?

For a very brief overview of the overall tradition, see TOMB OF THE UNKNOWN SOLDIER at Encyclopedia4U. For a comparison of Australia, Canada, and the United States, see THE UNKNOWN SOLDIERS.

CANADA

TOMB OF THE UNKNOWN SOLDIER

TOMB OF THE UNKNOWN SOLDIER: Comprehensive information from Veterans Affairs.

THE TOMB OF THE UNKNOWN SOLDIER: Information from a Public Works and Government Services Canada web-site.

TOMB OF THE UNKNOWN SOLDIER: CANADIAN WAR MEMORIAL

CANADA'S TOMB OF THE UNKNOWN: A selection of photos of the monument.

CANADA'S UNKNOWN SOLDIER RETURNS HOME MAY 2000: A contribution from Joyce M. Kennedy to the Legends and Traditions of the Great War web-site.

TOMB OF THE UNKNOWN SOLDIER -- IMAGE GALLERY: National Defence photos of the transfer of the remains.

TOMB OF THE UNKNOWN SOLDIER: A press release from National Defence.

TOMB OF THE UNKNOWN SOLDIER: A September/October 2000 article from Legion Magazine.

Rush to fill out a form to order a free educational module from Veterans Affairs Canada about the Tomb of the Unknown.

AUSTRALIA

TOMB OF THE UNKNOWN AUSTRALIAN SOLDIER

Information about the Unknown Soldier and Remembrance Day ceremonies from the Australian Department of Veterans' Affairs.

AUSTRALIA'S UNKNOWN SOLDIER: A description of the 1993 ceremony.

REMEMBRANCE DAY SPEECH: The text of a eulogy by Prime Minister P.J. Keating for the Unknown Australian Soldier at his interment at the Australian War Memorial in November 1993.

UNITED STATES

UNKNOWN SOLDIER

TOMB OF THE UNKNOWNS

TOMB OF THE UNKNOWNS: ARLINGTON NATIONAL CEMETERY

TOMB OF THE UNKNOWN SOLDIER: THE SARCOPHAGUS

TOMB OF THE UNKNOWN SOLDIER: THE SENTINELS

AMERICA'S UNKNOWN SOLDIER: A history of the monument's origins from the Great War Society.

Let Ben introduce you to the Tomb of the Unknowns.

SOCIETY OF THE HONOR GUARD -- TOMB OF THE UNKNOWN SOLDIER: The web-site of a non-profit association dedicated to protecting the image of the monument and the soldiers who guard it.

THE UNKNOWN SOLDIER

TOMB OF THE UNKNOWN SOLDIER: A 1963 Quartermaster Review article on the construction of the tomb and the selection of the World War I unknown soldier.