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  • Use this image under non-commercial licence

    This image was created and shared by: Jeremy Bartlett

    The image is free to reuse for non-commercial purposes under the IWM Non Commercial Licence. By downloading any images or embedding any media, you agree to the terms and conditions of the IWM Non Commercial Licence, including your use of the attribution statement specified by IWM. For this item, that is: © Jeremy Bartlett (WMR-53575)

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Memorial details

Memorial type
Serviceman / Servicewoman
District
City Of Westminster
Town
Holborn
County
Greater London
Country
England
Commemoration
Second World War (1939-1945)
Maker
Faith Winter (Sculptor)
Mr Mike Goss (Architect)
Mr Tony Hart (Architect)
Burleighfield Arts Ltd (Founder / Foundry)
Ceremony
  • Unveiled
    Date: 31 May 1992
    Attended by: HM QUEEN ELIZABETH THE QUEEN MOTHER
Lost
Not lost
WM Reference
53575
Current location

St Clement Danes Church
Strand
Holborn
City Of Westminster
Greater London
WC2R 1DH
England

OS Grid Ref: TQ 30978 81036
Denomination: Church of England

View location on Google Maps
Description
Statue of Arthur Harris in uniform, holding gloves behind his back, on a plinth with inscription on front face and a bronze plaque with further inscription on the side.
Inscription
West face of plinth: MARSHAL OF/ THE ROYAL AIR FORCE/ SIR ARTHUR HARRIS BT/ G.C.B. O.B.E. A.F.C./ 1892-1984/ COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF/ BOMBER COMMAND/ ROYAL AIR FORCE/ 1942-1945/ Side face of plinth: MARSHAL OF THE ROYAL AIR FORCE/ SIR ARTHUR HARRIS BT GCB OBE AFC/ IN MEMORY OF A GREAT COMMANDER AND/ THE BRAVE CREWS OF BOMBER COMMAND,/ MORE THAN 55,000 OF WHOM LOST THEIR/ LIVES IN THE CAUSE OF FREEDOM/ THE NATION OWES THEM ALL/ AN IMMENSE DEBT
Inscription legible?
yes
Names on memorial
Harris, Arthur
See details
Commemorations
  • Second World War (1939-1945)
    Total names on memorial: 1
    Served and returned: 1
    Died: 0
    Exact count: yes
    Information shown: surname,rank,year died,regiment,forename,decorations
    Order of information: Undefined
Components
  • Figure
    Measurements: Undefined
    Materials: Bronze
  • Plinth
    Measurements: Undefined
    Materials: Stone
Listing information
Condition
History
Oct. 1992 statue and plinth were sprayed with red paint and the word 'Shame'.
Costs

Memorial: £100,000

Trust fund/Scholarship
No
Purpose: Unknown or N/A
Sponsorship
Public
Responsibility
1999: English Heritage
Reference
  • Evening Standard 28 April 1992 Mayor of Cologne complained that the Queen Mother was to unveil the statue.
  • Private Eye No.795 p.1 (5 June 1992)
  • The Times 22 Feb. 1992 p.14; 22 May 1992 p.14; 25 May 1992 pp.2,10; 27 May 1992 p.13; 29 May 1992 p.15; 30 May 1992 pp.5,15; 1 June 1992 pp. 1,5,16,18; 2 June 1992 p.2; 11 Sep. 1992 p.12; 30 Oct. 1992 22, 25, 30 May 1992. Pacifist protesters erected a statue based on Picasso's 'Dove' consisting of seven plywood doves,outside the church in protest. 1 June 1992. Report of unveiling and protests at the ceremony 30 Oct. 1992: statue vandalized
  • The Guardian 1 May 1995 p.40

This record comprises all information held by IWM’s War Memorials Register for this memorial. Where we hold a names list for the memorial, this information will be displayed on the memorial record. Please check back as we are adding more names to the database.

This information is made available under a Creative Commons BY-NC licence.

This means you may reuse it for non-commercial purposes only and must attribute it to us using the following statement:

© WMR-53575

For queries, please contact memorials@iwm.org.uk.