In July 1936 Lieutenant William Richard Bell, Distinguished Conduct Medal was one of four 15th Battalion veterans that composed the Canadian ex Serviceman Guard of Honour at the unveiling of the Vimy Memorial on Vimy Ridge, France.
The Canadian Vimy Pilgrimage of 1936 was a monumental event, bringing together over 6,200 Canadian veterans and their families for the unveiling of the Canadian National Vimy Memorial in France. The pilgrimage was the largest peacetime movement of Canadians across the Atlantic and was seen as a profound expression of national identity and remembrance.
Organized by the Canadian Legion, the journey was a powerful statement of a nation’s collective grief and honour for those who fought in the First World War. The monument, designed by Canadian sculptor Walter Allward, stands on the site of the Battle of Vimy Ridge, a pivotal victory where all four divisions of the Canadian Corps fought together for the first time. The pilgrimage helped to solidify the battle’s legacy as a foundational moment in Canadian history, often cited as the “birth of a nation.” King Edward VIII unveiled the memorial on July 26, 1936, in a ceremony that drew over 50,000 spectators, underscoring the international significance of Canada’s sacrifice.
