A LARGE gathering of citizens was present at Bowring Park on Wednesday, Sept. 13th, when the statue of "The Fighting Newfoundlander," the work of the famous sculptor Captain Basil Gotto, and a gift to the city from the Hon. Sir Edgar R. Bowring, was unveiled and presented, with fitting ceremony.
This splendidly executed piece of statuary is done in bronze, and has been erected in the park, on its most commanding sight-on the height in front of the Bungalow-looking down the Waterford Valley. It was modeled after a member of the Royal Newfoundland Regiment, Corporal Thomas Pittman, D. C. M., M. M., who went across with "G" Company, typifying the fully equipped soldier.
The ceremony was performed by His Excellency the Administrator, Sir William Horwood, Kt. The statue had been appropriately draped with the Union Jack and after being unveiled, His Excellency the Administrator addressed the gathering and in a splendid address paid a great tribute to the memory of the men who were being commemorated on this occasion.| Your Excellency and my friends all: I wish at the beginning of my remarks to thank most cordially He. E. the Administrator for coming here to-day and unveiling this statue of the "Fighting Newfoundlander." In speaking of this statue it is not for me to say very much about it. It is from me that the statue originates and it is here chiefly because I want in this Bowring Park of ours something that will forevermore bring to mind the valorous deeds of the Royal Nfld. Regiment. The deeds of the Regiment from 1914 to 1918 are well known to us when the Great War may possibly have been forgotten, then this statue may remind our children of the noble deeds of our Regiment. The statue we have here to-day is "The Fighting Newfoundlander." Many have called it "The Bomber." This is not really correct. Although the figure is in the act of throwing a bomb that does not make it a bomber, who is a special man. In the early days of the war the men fought with rifles and often carried bombs as well. This figure of the "Fighting Newfoundlander" was made by the eminent sculptor Basil Gotto who knew our Newfoundland Regiment very well at Winchester where he came into contact with the men and formed warm friendships with some of the officers. It was here that he got the idea of modeling a statue of the "Fighting Newfoundlander." I have always had a particular interest in the Regiment and visited it at Salisbury, Fort George, Ayre, Edinburgh, Stob's Camp, Winchester and twice on the Continent. It was at Winchester I first saw the statue. My duty to-day is to make a formal presentation to the City of St. John's of this statue and I now make the presentation, hoping that it may be of interest to generations to come and that St. John's may feel inclined to accept it and look after it henceforth. |
| On behalf of the citizens of St. John's, I have great pleasure in accepting your magnificent gift. It will always serve to remind us of the great and noble deeds performed by the Newfoundland Regiment. It will be a reminder of the valour of the men who left our shores to fight the great battle for Justice and Liberty. As we look back with pride to what our ancestors have done, so there will be this statue to remind our children and their children of the patriotism and heroism of Newfoundlanders during the Great War. For over a century and a half the Bowring family has been connected with the commercial and social life of Newfoundland. We have had some very generous men of your family, but you, Sir Edgar, have exceeded them all. You have given the people of St. John's this Park which gives pleasure to many thousands of people. Newfoundlanders generally owe you a debt which can never be repaid. I can only re-echo the wish of all the people, that you may be long spared to see how fully your magnificent gift is appreciated. |
Hon. J. D. Ryan, as a citizen of St. John's, thanked Sir Edgar Bowring for his gift. He referred to the splendid record of the Regiment and also the devastating effects the recent war had on the world.The ceremony then concluded with the C.L.B. playing the well-known hymn, "Fight the Good Fight," the large gathering joining in singing the verses. The National Anthem then brought the proceedings to a close.
Unknown Author, "The Fighting Newfoundlander," The Veteran, Vol. 2, No. 3, Sept. 1922, p. 28.Photo: The Fighting Newfoundlander, "The Fighting Newfoundlander," The Veteran, Vol. 2, No. 3, Sept. 1922, p. 28.
Photo: John Major Memorial, "The Fighting Newfoundlander," The Veteran, Vol. 2, No. 3, Sept. 1922, p. 29.