Photographer Len Wagg Documents Canada's War Monuments in New Book
A new photographic collection explores the human stories behind Canada's global war memorials.
1Documenting Historical Remembrance
Nova Scotia photographer Len Wagg has released a new book titled At Home and Beyond: Honouring Canada’s War Dead. Over five years, Wagg traveled across Canada and Europe to capture images of war graves and monuments. The project aims to preserve the visual history of Canadian military service and sacrifice.
2Origins of the Project
Wagg’s interest began 30 years ago while on assignment in Sicily. After photographing the Agira Canadian War Cemetery, he received numerous calls from families who finally discovered the resting places of their relatives. This profound impact on surviving family members inspired his long-term commitment to documenting these sacred memorial sites.
3Scale of Canadian Sacrifice
More than 110,000 Canadians are buried in over 5,800 sites across foreign lands. Additionally, 27,000 service members remain missing with no known graves. Wagg’s work highlights both the well-known locations like Vimy Ridge and Juno Beach, alongside the smaller, often overlooked sites that hold the remains of fallen soldiers.
4Focusing on Human Stories
Rather than acting as a historian, Wagg centers his book on the people behind the monuments. The narrative includes profiles of war nurses, organizers of memorial sites, and casualty identification experts. By highlighting these individuals, the book provides a personal perspective on the ongoing efforts to honor the fallen soldiers.
5Casualty Identification Efforts
The book features Sarah Lockyer and her team at the Department of National Defence’s casualty identification unit. Using DNA analysis and historical research, these experts work to identify remains found in Europe. Once identified, these soldiers receive full military funerals, ensuring they are finally returned to their families by name.
6Historical Coincidences
Wagg documents poignant details, such as the grave of Pte. George Lawrence Price, the last Commonwealth soldier killed in the First World War. Price died just two minutes before the 1918 armistice. His grave in Belgium sits near that of Pte. John Parr, the first Commonwealth serviceman killed in the war.
7Iconic Wartime Imagery
The book includes a foreword by 91-year-old Warren Bernard, the subject of the famous 1940 photograph Wait for Me Daddy. Wagg tracked down Bernard to include his perspective on the legacy of the image. The photograph, which once hung in every British Columbia school, remains a powerful symbol of wartime separation.
8Generational Gratitude
Wagg observes that modern Canadian identity is deeply connected to the sacrifices made during the World Wars. He notes a generational gratitude among young people in Europe and Canada who maintain these sites. This ongoing stewardship ensures that the stories of the fallen continue to be passed down through families.