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26 March 2008
 Sir
Keith Park Memorial Campaign
On Battle of Britain Day (15 September 2007) an article in the Financial
Times sparked a series of letters in support of a campaign to commemorate
the huge debt of recognition owed by many to one man – Air Chief
Marshall Sir Keith Park GCB, KBE, MC and Bar, DFC, DCL, who commanded
11 Group Fighter Command, RAF during the Battle of Britain in the summer
of 1940.
Londoners, the South East of England, our country as a whole and ultimately
the free world are able to enjoy the results of his vision and leadership
of the many brave pilots, aircrew, ground staff and all involved in the
defence of our country during those dark days.
Terry Smith, Chief Executive of Tullett Prebon in London was one of those
who responded to the FT article and he pledged his financial support for
a suitable memorial statue and thus this campaign was born.
Aims of the Campaign
The commissioning and construction of a suitable and fitting statue as
a memorial to Sir Keith Park, reflecting the heroic leadership and recognition
the free world owes this individual and those he led in the biggest aerial
battle the world has ever seen. Crucially this campaign will celebrate
not only the defeat of the invaders, but also the heroic and successful
defence of our country.
The ideal site for this statue would be the 4th Plinth in Trafalgar Square,
considered a fitting location by many, in the company of other heroes
of our country’s military history, currently representing army and
naval heroes.
The Campaign for a Memorial Statue
Many individuals and organisations will, it is hoped, lend their help
by acting as advocates for this campaign. Passing on the contact details
of this campaign and the petition or taking the opportunity to inform
like-minded individuals and organisations that this campaign is under
way and needs as much support as possible will be very helpful. To help
our supporters the information below is a quick outline of the record
of Sir Keith Park, and the debt of gratitude that our nation owes him
and all those he led.
A suitable memorial to the senior commander of the Royal Air Force Sector
11 Squadrons (11 Group), who defended London and the South East of England
during the Battle of Britain in the summer of 1940, is an oversight that
needs to be addressed. (SE includes: Kent, Surrey, East and West Sussex,
Essex, Hertfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire, Berkshire, Hampshire,
and the Isle of Wight).
It is public knowledge that Terry Smith of Tullett Prebon and Collins
Stewart City of London Financial firm, has pledged to fund a suitable
bronze statue of Sir Keith Park.
The aim is for this statue to be placed permanently on the 4th (mostly
vacant) Plinth in Trafalgar Square.
The campaign will raise awareness of the lack of public acknowledgement
of this great man’s leadership, and the role he played in leading
all the pilots involved in defending our country, across London, the UK
and internationally. In his native New Zealand there are the Sir KP Airfield,
the Museum of Transport and Technology, and Exhibition of information
concerning his military career.
In addition to his considerable achievements in commanding 11 Group,
he also commanded the RAF in Malta (1942-43) and under Mountbatten in
1945 he was Allied Air Commander-In-Chief of South East Asia. With previously
a distinguished early career in the NZ and British Army, including time
spent in Gallipoli and the Somme, and then as an ace fighter pilot later
in the First World War, Sir Keith Park’s accomplishments in various
theatres demonstrate what a remarkable man he was.
This campaign will supportively set the issue firmly in the minds of
decision makers, relevant influencers and opinion formers,the media and
the general public across London, the UK, and internationally - specifically
New Zealand and possibly Malta, France, North Africa, Sicily and South
East Asia.
The campaign will also focus on support from the relevant NZ and UK Army
Regiments and RAF Squadrons he fought with and commanded. The support
of organisations such as the Royal British Legion, Battle of Britain,
the War Memorial Trust, Royal Air force Benevolent Fund, Historical Society,
Bentley Priory Benevolent Trust, Aircrew Association, and the Battle of
Britain Fighter Association, will be helpful in the campaign to achieve
wide spread support.
By instilling a feeling of support, we will ensure a groundswell of enthusiasm
for our aims of achieving a statue of Sir Keith Park mounted on the 4th
plinth in Trafalgar Square. This infectious enthusiasm will ultimately
be tested in that it will apply pressure on those decision makers to accept
the rightful place for this long overdue homage to Sir Keith Park, a man
who saved London, our country and the free world, is Trafalgar Square
– the Square of Heroes.
For further information and the online petition visit www.sirkeithpark.com
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In Brief
What: Sir Keith Park Memorial Campaign
Where: Trafalgar Square, London
How: Visit the campaign web site where there is an online
petition www.sirkeithpark.com
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