Monument to the War of Independence in Kambja
Memorial site
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This monument is situated in the cemetery in the small borough of Kambja.
Colloquially known as ‘Kambja Jack’, the monument was designed by sculptor Aleksander Eller and unveiled on 27 October 1929. The base of the monument was laid from stones gathered from the farmlands and pastures of the families of the deceased and of locals in Kambja. It is said that the statue of the soldier was modelled after the head of Villemi Farm, MP Jüri Ottas. The statue was pulled down in 1940. The sword was hidden by local schoolboys right there on the hillside, but went missing. The statue was put back on 12 July 1942, but the monument was fully demolished on 16 May 1948. The restored monument, with a new bronze sculpture by Aivar Ennet, was unveiled anew on 23 July 1989. The best-known of the soldiers listed on the monument is Lieutenant Julius Kuperjanov.
Used sources and references:
Eesti sõjaajaloo teejuht, Tallinn 2010. Compiled by: K. Luts
National Heritage Board registry of cultural monuments. https://register.muinas.ee/public.php?menuID=monument&action=view&id=27160
