New Statue in Trafalgar Square Commemorates War Hero

[FlyingKiwi]

The fourth statue plinth in Trafalgar Square in London has stood empty since 1841, but now for the next six months will hold a statue of Sir Keith Park (who was a New Zealander, hence my interest) who was the Air Vice Marshall in charge of the 11th fighter group of the RAF charged with the defense of London during the Battle of Britain in WWII.

Sir Keith Park statue unveiled in Trafalgar Square



A statue commemorating the New Zealander who led the Royal Air Force during the Battle of Britain was unveiled in London overnight in front of several hundred people.

The statue of Sir Keith Park was erected in Trafalgar Square where it will remain for six months before moving to a permanent site in Waterloo Place, close to New Zealand House.

Sir Keith was born in Thames in 1892 and served at Gallipoli and the Somme in World War 1 before becoming a pilot and shooting down 20 enemy aircraft.

He was an air vice-marshal in the Royal Air Force and commanded its No 11 Fighter Group during the Battle of Britain in 1940.

His tactical brilliance and inspirational leadership were credited with playing a vital role at a time when the German Luftwaffe threatened to destroy Britain's air defence system.

London Mayor Boris Johnson said Sir Keith's achievements were under-rated.

"Sir Keith Park did not merely help a very few brave people to win the Battle of Britain.

"In helping to save Britain, he helped to save Europe from tyranny, and in helping to save our nation's capital, he saved the love of democracy - the generosity, the tolerance, the refusal to bow down before bigotry that gives London its character and makes it the greatest city on earth."

New Zealand High Commissioner to Britain, Derek Leask, said not enough people knew about Sir Keith's achievements.

"I think that is true not just in Britain, but probably in New Zealand as well - the huge contribution that he made," he told Radio New Zealand.

"We are just thrilled that this has come to the fore now. It will be 70-years next year since the Battle of Britain and it's a very appropriate way of recognising everything that he did."

The campaign for the statue was led by London financier Terry Smith, supported by New Zealand's Parliament.

Mr Smith described Sir Keith as a remarkable man who was modest about his achievements.

Original Article Location

The other three plinths are occupied by statues of King George IV, Henry Havelock and Sir Charles James Napier.

[steeper]

The fourth statue plinth in Trafalgar Square in London has stood empty since 1841

Actually, the 4th plinth has been used since 1999 to host various temporary statues. When I was in London for the first time it held a giant marble torso.

[Jaden]

It's good that his contribution is being recognised in this way i always feel sort of sorry for Commonwealth and ex-imperial countries when i watch war documentaries etc, because they always seem to be completely overlooked, you always hear about Britain, America and Russia fighting, but much more rarely hear about Canadians, ANZACS, Africans, Indians etc etc; i think more attention should be paid to all the countries that did send soldiers to help fight in Europe and Asia.

[Joker]

I really like the whole temporary statue idea.

[Kevohall]

I really like the whole temporary statue idea.

Yea, me too. Trafalgar square is a great place. I loved it when I visited London.

[Títmouse]

It's good that his contribution is being recognised in this way i always feel sort of sorry for Commonwealth and ex-imperial countries when i watch war documentaries etc, because they always seem to be completely overlooked, you always hear about Britain, America and Russia fighting, but much more rarely hear about Canadians, ANZACS, Africans, Indians etc etc; i think more attention should be paid to all the countries that did send soldiers to help fight in Europe and Asia.

That's because they weren't countries, they were dominions or colonies

I never knew this happened, but it's a cool idea, makes the square more interesting.

[steeper]

That's because they weren't countries, they were dominions or colonies

I never knew this happened, but it's a cool idea, makes the square more interesting.

Ermm... history fail.

Canada, Australia and New Zealand were all self governing, and the armies were independent by the Second World War (I have no idea how the British Raj worked, so I'll not touch on that).

It was entirely the decision of each country to enter into the war. Debates were held in the respective parliaments to discuss joining the effort. They were, mostly, a foregone conclusion, but it was not simply Britain crooking it's fingers and the dominions coming. We could have said no.

[Títmouse]

Ermm... history fail.

Canada, Australia and New Zealand were all self governing, and the armies were independent by the Second World War (I have no idea how the British Raj worked, so I'll not touch on that).

It was entirely the decision of each country to enter into the war. Debates were held in the respective parliaments to discuss joining the effort. They were, mostly, a foregone conclusion, but it was not simply Britain crooking it's fingers and the dominions coming. We could have said no.

You were self governing under British soverignty, which is why I assume the term 'Britain' or the British Empire is used? That was all I meant, more that it's excusable rather than correct.

On a side note, when I was in the Somme, I went to the Newfoundland Park and the Ulster Tower Memorial, so you're not lumped in under 'British' over there, at least. The Newfoundland Park one is quite spooky as you can walk through the actual trenches that have been preserved and can see the shell holes. Different war I know, but what the hey

[Jaden]

It was entirely the decision of each country to enter into the war. Debates were held in the respective parliaments to discuss joining the effort. They were, mostly, a foregone conclusion, but it was not simply Britain crooking it's fingers and the dominions coming. We could have said no.

I can't remember exactly, and quite frankly can't be bothered looking it up right now but i think there actually was a dominion that said no to joining the war effort and remained neutral throughout; God knows who it was though.

[Títmouse]

I can't remember exactly, and quite frankly can't be bothered looking it up right now but i think there actually was a dominion that said no to joining the war effort and remained neutral throughout; God knows who it was though.

It's a choice of India, Ceylon, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, Newfoundland, South Africa and Ireland

Wiki says:
Britain deemed her declaration of war against Germany in August 1914 to extend to all territories of the Empire without the need for consultation, occasioning some displeasure in Canadian official circles and contributing to a brief anti-British insurrection by Afrikaner militants in South Africa later that year.

So I would assume all took part in the first world war, but I'm not sure about the second because they'd 'proved their worth' by that time and were no longer subordinate to Westminster.

[steeper]

Ireland was neutral in the second world war.

They were still a Dominion until the Republic of Ireland Act of 1948, I think... unless my Irish history is seriously dodgy (which it is )

[Bobby]

Wow Sir Keith's achievemtns are incredible yet so unsung. It makes you think how many people had amazing achievements like his but never got credit. So if this is a temporary statue, what is normally is in the place where the statue will sit?

[FlyingKiwi]

It's being moved to Waterloo Place, which is close to where the New Zealand embassy is.

Also, thanks for correcting me Brady, I was admittedly using the term "empty" a little loosely, since I was aware that there were temporary art works placed there, however since this one is also temporary I can see now that wasn't the best way to have worded it.

Incidentally, Sir Keith Park died in 1975, but quite a few of his relatives were present at the ceremony when the statue was unveiled.

[irishamerican]

im gonna have to disagree with the authors statement about the love of democracy, that would be D.C. not london. just saying lol. other than that good for him

[Ingrate]

Why do you disagree?