There are more than 400 public artworks in the City of Westminster, and this post explores just a small fraction of those which I photographed on my last visit to London. The first is the Monument to the Women of World War II which effectively displays the different jobs women undertook during the war, represented by the different uniforms they would have worn. Designed by John W Mills and unveiled by the Queen in 2005, the writing on the side is the same font as that used on war-time ration books.
This next sculpture is of Field Marshal Douglas Haig, commander during the Battle of the Somme among other things. Unveiled in 1937 it was apparently controversial for the position of the horse’s legs, though I couldn’t really comment on that myself.
This statue is of Spencer Compton, eighth Duke of Devonshire, a politician who actually declined to become Prime Minister on three occasions. The statue was unveiled in 1911, 3 years after his death.
This next statue is of Prince George, Duke of Cambridge, grandson of George III and cousin of Queen Victoria.
This imposing sculpture is of George V, the Queen’s grandfather and was unveiled in 1947.
This statue is of course of Field Marshal Viscount “Monty” Montgomery, who fought in both world wars and commandered the British army during the Second World War in such campaigns as the Battle of El Alamein.
The next statue is a relatively recent addition, unveiled in 1993 outside the Ministry of Defence depicting Alan Brooke, 1st Viscount Alanbrooke, military advisor to Winston Churchill and coordinator of the British military in 1945.
This final statue is that of William Slim, 1st Viscount Slim who had been a commander in World War II’s Burma campaign. The statue was unveiled in 1990, designed by Ivor Roberts-Jones who had fought under Slim.
You can find some more photos here.
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