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James
Wolfe, son of Edward and Henrietta, was born in 1727 at
Westerham in Kent. He was educated at a school in Greenwich
and commissioned in his father's regiment in 1741. He had a
brilliant career and was a Major-General at age 32. On his
last expedition, with Admiral Sir Charles Saunders (who is
buried not far from Wolfe's monument) and also the young James
Cook, he made his way to Quebec, the capital of French Canada.
The French thought the town was impregnable and a first
assault by the English failed. But Wolfe's scouting party
found a sheer narrow track up to the Heights (or Plains) of
Abraham above the town and under cover of darkness on
September 13th 1759 his troops moved noiselessly down the St
Lawrence river by boat and climbed up the track to completely
surprise the French, who then surrendered. Wolfe was hit by
three bullets and fell at the head of his men but he knew
victory was assured for the English in Canada and was said to
have died with a smile on his face.
Burial and Abbey Memorial
His body was brought back to England with military honours and
at his mother's request James was buried with his father at St
Alfege's church in Greenwich.
The Prime Minister, William Pitt, called for a national
monument for Wolfe and a large memorial by the sculptor Joseph
Wilton was erected to him in the north ambulatory of
Westminster Abbey in 1772 at a cost of £3,000.
The figure of the dying General is depicted,
supported by a Grenadier and a Highland soldier in uniform in
front of a tent. The figure of Victory is shown descending
bearing a laurel wreath and a palm branch. At the base are two
large lions and a relief of bronzed lead showing the assault
(attributed to the sculptor Giovanni Battista Cappitzoldi or
Capezzuoli).
Canadian Flags
During the 1914-1918 war various Canadian battalions deposited
their flags (or colours) in the Abbey which were laid up on
Wolfe's monument for the duration of the war and returned
after the Armistice. As a perpetual reminder of Canada's help
to the mother country during the Great War two colours were
dedicated at a special service in 1922 and placed on Wolfe's
monument where they remain today. The battalions who deposited
their colours during the war were: 22nd Battery CFA, 44th
Canadian Pioneers, 38th, 51st, 70th, 75th, 77th,116th, 120th,
132nd, 137th, 156th, 157th, 159th, 175th, 187th and 207th.
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