Known for his most famous monument, the Canadian National Vimy Memorial, Walter Seymour Allward communicated his abstract ideas through the poses and expressions of allegorical figures. The Stratford War Memorial is one of his finest works, created from 1919 - 1922, it was erected in downtown Stratford to a post WW1 crowd. An image of hope and sacrifice, the figures "Spiritual Man" and "Defeat" are representations of his brilliance.