New VC/GC Memorial

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The following is an extract from the MoD Magazine Focus

I will scan and post photos in the next couple of days.

Dave

For Valour

Within the Pillared Hall of the refurbished Main Building stands a

new memorial and tribute to the servicemen who have been

decorated with the Victoria Cross and the servicemen and

women who have been decorated with the George Cross. The

memorial is designed to perpetuate their memory and the deeds

which won them the highest decorations that the country can

bestow for valour and gallantry. Further it is designed to

remind all who work within the Ministry that in all aspects of

the defence of the realm, courage of the highest order and,

if necessary, the supreme sacrifice may be demanded.

The character of the memorial is designed to exemplify the

courage, selflessness, example and sacrifice of those who were

decorated with these supreme awards. The concept called for a

design that was simple, dignified and timeless and of a nature

that would resonate strongly with those who stand before it.

The memorial, located centrally along the east side of the

Pillared Hall, is based upon two elements blending together as a

single monument. First a bronze sculpture mounted on a column

and designed to capture the spirit, character and qualities of the

recipients. A military figure depicting leadership and selfless

courage in the face of adversity emerges from the pitted column

leading with is right arm and reaching out to help others while

carrying the full weight of responsibility. The sculpture leads

through to the memorial's stained glass window - just over three

metres in height - that encompasses the two crosses in coloured

and etched glass together with a column mirroring the bronze

column of the sculpture. Quotations from Queen Victoria and King

George VI instituting the Crosses iterate the values that underpin

the award of the medals.

The two texts are linked by a short quotation from Pericles;

"They fled only from dishonour but met danger face to face".

The depth and choice of colour for the glass for the window has

been chosen to ensure compatibility with the general colour

scheme of the Pillared Hall. Muted green, blue, red and offwhite

opaque glass has been selected from many parts of the

world to guarantee suitability.

The red and blue ribbons depicted have been carefully conceived

to create an impression of woven fabric. A deep reddish brown

was chosen for the perspective floor that matches the actual

colour of the newly laid terrazzo of the Pillared Hall.

The Victoria Cross is the country's highest decoration for

"conspicuous bravery or devotion to the country in the presence

of the enemy". It was instituted by Queen Victoria towards the

conclusion of the Crimean war. All VCs are made from bronze

and the metal comes from the melted down breeches of guns

captured from the Russians at Sebastopol in the Crimea. The

design is a Maltese Cross bearing in the centre the royal crown

surmounted by a lion with the roll inscribed "For Valour". The

colour of the ribbon has been described as wine red. 1354

awards have been made of the Victoria Cross, many of them

posthumously and 11 crosses have been awarded since the

Second World War. A number have been awarded to members of

the Commonwealth Forces. There are currently fifteen

surviving holders of the Victoria Cross.

The George Cross was instituted by Royal Warrant in 1940.

King George VI had been greatly moved by the fortitude and

courage displayed by many civilians and by those engaged in

bomb and mine disposal during the Blitz and wanted these

outstanding acts of bravery to be suitably recognised. The King,

with his advisors, decided to create a new decoration which

would be equivalent in status with the Victoria Cross. The

George Cross is made of silver and the colour of the ribbon is

officially described as "Garter Blue". The inscription reads "For

Gallantry". The decoration may be awarded to servicemen and

women as well as civilians for acts of great heroism in

circumstances other than battle. Of the 155 direct awards of

the George Cross since its inception over 100 have been

awarded to servicemen and women.

The concept for a memorial within the refurbished Ministry of

Defence was conceived by Lieutenant General Sir Peter Duffell

together with Mrs Didy Grahame of the Victoria Cross and

George Cross Association.

The eventual design was approved by the Secretary of State for

Defence and the Chiefs of Staff and English Heritage.

The stained glass window was designed by Rachel Foster and the

skilled production group of the Eastwood Senior Citizens Art

Project Enterprise (ESCAPE). The membership of the group

includes elderly disabled women and they had already created a

number of stained glass windows including that for the United

Nations building in Geneva and for the European Parliament

building before being commissioned to execute the Memorial

window. The lettering on the window was designed and set out

by Richard Kindersley.

The powerful bronze figure depicting courage was sculpted by

Marcus Cornish whose work has been widely commissioned and

exhibited and who won the competitive invitation to tender for

the sculpture.

Liam O'Connor Architects were commissioned to design the

memorial and to manage its installation within the Ministry of

Defence.

Funding for the Memorial was contributed by Skanska, the main

contractors for the refurbishment of the Main Building who also

gave freely of their resources and advice during the

development of the concept and through to the final installation

of both the stained glass window and the sculpture. Additional

funding was kindly contributed by The Victoria Cross and George

Cross Association and Amey plc.

[HERITAGE PLUS]

Photos as promised.