Pity of War – The National Memorial for Civilian Victims of War and Conflict

For the Unknown, Nameless, Voiceless

On June 24th The Lord Lieutenant of Staffordshire Mr Ian Dudson, together with the Right Reverend Bishop Michael Ipgrave and the Pity of War Charitable Trust, dedicated and unveiled the national memorial for civilian victims of war at the National Memorial Arboretum in Staffordshire.

The Sculpture a 6ft Bronze entitled ‘The Pity of War’ sculpted by internationally renowned sculptor Peter Walker honours the unknown, nameless, and voiceless civilian victims of war and conflict throughout the world.

The artwork portrays the pity of war through the removal and abstraction of features, representing this symbolically through the simplistic portrait of a young child, eyes bound and mouth silenced.

The Pity of War Charitable Trust has been devotionally raising awareness and fundraising to bring this memorial to fruition at the National memorial Arboretum in Staffordshire. A cause that the late Joyce Gee a Shropshire Quaker began, together with the Pity of War charitable trust team – Dr Kit Byatt, Linda Hale, Jan Arriens, Jeff Beaty, Barbara Mark whom all share the same passion and continue to raise awareness through education and outreach.

The day of the dedication hundreds of attendees from different backgrounds, faiths and communities gathered to see pupils from St Stephens school in Fradley sing a beautiful rendition of ‘Imagine’ by John Lennon, conducted and performed by Cathy Lamb on keyboard (Lichfield Cathedral School) and accompanied by Mr Michael Dowd on guitar.

Speeches were given by the Pity of War Trust, The Artist Peter Walker, The Bishop of Lichfield The Rt. Rev. Dr Michael Ipgrave, and the Lord Lieutenant Mr Ian Dudson, before the school children assisted in pulling the large cloth from the bronze artwork to unveil the striking and poignant memorial. The crowds and children wowed and applauded as the sculpture was unveiled.

This international project has also seen small scale versions for the memorial installed in the Basilica of St Mary in Minneapolis; Limburg an der Lahn, Germany; University Church in Oxford; Chester, Sheffield, Liverpool and Winchester Cathedrals, and St Martin in the Fields, London, The British Embassy in Paris, and The British Embassy in UAE.

“The reach and presentation of the Pity of War in the UK and internationally pays testament to a new way of working in which a memorial is more than a fixed point. People in different countries and locations around the UK will be able to connect with the Charity’s message and for a moment reflect on the sufferings of millions of civilians in conflicts today and through the past 100 years” Said Jeff Beatty, Trustee.

The memorial can now be visited at the NMA and stands as a national symbol for all those affected by war or conflict.

For more info see www.pityofwar.org or visit The National Memorial Arboretum, Alrewas, Staffordshire.