Pity of War project

Memorial to the Nameless, Voiceless and Forgotten affected by war and conflict

In these strangest of times, when the pace of life change seems so fast, a new charity “Pity of War” has been launched to remember millions of nameless, voiceless and forgotten individuals affected by war. Its objective is to promote increased awareness among the public of the wider impact of war upon civilians, something that has affected and continues to affect countless people worldwide each year. 

The charity started as the concern of a Shropshire Quaker, the late Joyce Gee. Joyce’s home in London narrowly missed being bombed in the Second World War when she was a schoolgirl. The memories never left her. On a visit to the National Memorial Arboretum in Staffordshire in 2013 Joyce was struck by the lack of a specific memorial to civilian non-combatants. 

The issue was taken up by Quakers both locally and nationally, when it was discovered that Peter Walker, an internationally known sculptor, was already working along similar lines and had a concept in mind. Successful negotiations were conducted with the NMA for a memorial site, where the memorial will eventually reside. The memorial will take the form of a bronze bust standing on a high plinth. Maquette’s of the final design have been on display in a number of Cathedrals, including Chester, Coventry, Salisbury and Lichfield, where they have been seen by tens of thousands of people already, and 12 bronze models are now displayed permanently around the UK as well as at the British Embassy in Dubai, Paris and The Basilica of St Mary in Minnesota USA. 

The design of the memorial—a blindfolded head, with neither ears nor mouth—powerfully symbolises the impotence of the innocent civilian caught up in the horrors of war. It will be cast in bronze, 2 metres high, on a square 30 cm plinth and simple white gravel base.

The Pity of War project does not end its work with the memorial but also acts as a catalyst for an ongoing educational program. The pity of war project is developing outreach in schools and communities across the country in conjunction with exhibitions, readings and Son-et-lumière events raising awareness of not just the physical but also the psychological, social, educational, economic and cultural effects of war upon the civilian population.

Fundraising towards the pity of war project is underway and anyone interested in supporting the project or finding out more can do so at www.pityofwar.org and donate by going to www.just giving.com/pityofwar. 

Website: PityofWar.org

Twitter:@pityofwarstatue

Facebook: @Pityofwarstatue