There are 17 niches, numbered from the left of the entrance, each containing a marble plaque that recounts the continuous record of Canada's war story from the Response to the Call to Arms until the Homecoming of her Troops. With text in both official languages, the plaques have been updated to reflect Canada's involvement in pre- and post-First World War conflicts, from the Fenian Raids to the many peacekeeping missions.

Plaque 1

This plaque recognizes Canada's military history in the early years of Confederation. It identifies the Fenian Raids (1866-1870), involving the protection of Canada's borders from Irish-American incursions; the Nile Expedition (1884-1885), Canada's first overseas campaign; the North-West Rebellion (1885), the unsuccessful attempt to divide the Dominion of Canada; and South Africa (1899-1902), when Canada provided the British War Office with 7,300 Canadians, including 12 nursing sisters, against the Dutch South Africans (Boers).

Plaque 2

This plaque lists various theatres of operation where Canadians fought bravely and with distinction during the Great War (First World War). It identifies Atlantic, Great Britain home defence, Belgian coast, France and Belgium, and the Mediterranean region (1914-1918); Mesopotamia (1914-1917); the Pacific (1915); Dardanelles Strait near Gallipoli against Turkey (1915-1916); Macedonia (1915-1917); Egypt and Palestine (1915-1918); German East Africa (1916-1917); Italy (1917-1918); and South Russia and Siberia (1918-1919).

Plaque 3

This plaque identifies the many battlefields in which Canadians fought in France and Belgium from 1915 to 1918, including Ypres, Festubert, Loos, Mount Sorrel (1915); Somme, Albert (Beaumont Hamel), Courtrai (1916); and Arras, Vimy, Hill 70, Messine (1917).

Plaque 4

This plaque contains the text of the poem "In Flanders Fields", by Lieutenant-Colonel John M^cCrae, MD, who died and was buried in France in January 1918.

Plaque 5

This plaque further identifies battlefields where Canadian soldiers fought in France and Flanders in 1917 and 1918. They include Ypres, Passchendaele, Cambrai (1917); Somme, Lys, Amiens, Hindenburg Line (1918); and Ypres, Valenciennes, Sambre, Pursuit to Mons (1918). Some of the battlefields listed are the sites where Canadians had fought in previous battles in the same war.

Plaque 6

This French-language plaque duplicates panel 2, listing various theatres of operation where Canadians fought bravely and with distinction during the Great War (First World War). It includes Atlantic, Great Britain home defence, Belgian coast, France and Belgium, and the Mediterranean region during the period 1914-1918; Mesopotamia (1914-1917); the Pacific (1915); Dardanelles Strait near Gallipoli against Turkey (1915-1916); Macedonia (1915-1917); Egypt and Palestine (1915-1918); German East Africa (1916-1917); Italy (1917-1918); and South Russia and Siberia (1918-1919).

Plaque 7

This plaque contains the text of a poem by noted Canadian writer Earle Birney "On Going to the Wars". After serving in Canada and overseas during the Second World War, Birney worked as a creative writing teacher at several universities, most notably the University of British Columbia (where he founded Canada's first creative writing department) and the University of Toronto.

Plaque 8

This plaque takes the reader through a brief historical description of Canada's involvement in various domestic and international conflicts, beginning with the Fenian Raids and concluding with the Korean War.

Plaque 9

This plaque contains a Biblical text, Psalm 139.

Plaque 10

This French-language plaque duplicates panel 8, briefly describing Canada's involvement in various domestic and international conflicts, beginning with the Fenian Raids and concluding with the Korean War.

Plaque 11

This French-language plaque exhibits an excerpt from noted Canadian writer Gabrielle Roy's first novel, Bonheur d'occasion. The outbreak of the Second World War in 1939 hastened her return to Canada where she settled in Montreal and became a free-lance journalist.

Plaque 12

This French-language plaque displays the Second World War (1939-1945) theatres of operation including Atlantic, Baltic, English Channel and North Sea (1939-1945); Battle of Britain (1940); Egypt and Libya (1940-1943); Arctic, Defence of Britain and Biscay (1940-1945); Hong Kong (1941); Eastern Waters and Pacific Coast (1941-1945); Ceylon (1942); North Africa and Aleutians (1942-1943); and Burma (1944-1945).

Plaque 13

This plaque identifies further Second World War theatres of operations, including Sicily, Adrano (1943); and the following theatres on the Italian mainland: (1943-1945): Sangro, Moro, Ortona, Monte Camino, Anzio, Casino 11, Liri Valley, Rome, Trasimene Line, Arrezo, Advance to Florence, Gothic Line, Coriano, Lamone Crossing, and Rimini Line.

Plaque 14

This plaque contains the text of the French-language adaptation of Lieutenant-Colonel John McCrae's "In Flanders Fields", by Major Jean Pariseau.

Plaque 15

This plaque identifies further Second World War theatres of operations, including North-West Europe (1940-1942); Fortress Europe (1940-1944); and North-West Europe*, Southern France, Normandy, Bourgébus Ridge, Falaise, Channel Ports, Scheldt, Rhineland, Rhine and Caen (1944-1945).

Plaque 16

This English-language plaque duplicates panel 12, the Second World War (1939-1945) theatres of operation that include Atlantic, Baltic, English Channel and North Sea (1939-1945); Battle of Britain (1940); Egypt and Libya (1940-1943); Arctic, Defence of Britain and Biscay (1940-1945); Hong Kong (1941); Eastern Waters and Pacific Coast (1941-1945); Ceylon (1942); North Africa and Aleutians (1942-1943); and Burma (1944-1945).

* North-West Europe was a battle site on two occasions, 1940-1942 and 1944-1945.

Plaque 17

This plaque identifies the Korean operations (1950-1953) and recognizes United Nations and international surveillance activities involving Canadian, British Commonwealth and allied forces (1949 onward).