CENTENARY SOLDIER

Should we remember?

Centenary Soldier, 2014 & 2024
Bronze
Unique work
H240 x W140 x D75cm
© Mark Humphrey

COLLECTOR
Dover Town Council

COLLABORATORS
The Land Trust
Corps of Royal Engineers (British Army)

CHARITIES
The Royal British Legion

LOCATION
Fort Burgoyne, Kent, UK

“CENTENARY SOLDIER PRESENTS AN UNNAMED FIRST WORLD WAR SOLDIER STANDING PROUD IN QUIET REFLECTION. CAST IN BRONZE, THE FIGURE IS INSPIRED BY THE UNKNOWN SOLDIER AND DERIVES FROM MY EVERY ONE REMEMBERED OBELISK STATUE, UNVEILED IN TRAFALGAR SQUARE IN 2014.

HIS EYES ARE CLOSED. RATHER THAN LOOKING OUT AT THE WORLD, HE TURNS INWARD, CREATING A MOMENT OF STILLNESS AND CONTEMPLATION. THE CLOSED EYES SUGGEST REMEMBRANCE NOT AS SOMETHING SIMPLY OBSERVED, BUT SOMETHING FELT – A MOMENT TO REFLECT ON THOSE WHO FOUGHT, THOSE WHO WERE LOST AND THOSE WHO CARRIED THE CONSEQUENCES OF WAR.

THE STATUE COULD BE ANYONE. ONE INDIVIDUAL BECOMES REPRESENTATIVE OF THE COUNTLESS PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN AFFECTED BY CONFLICT SINCE THE FIRST WORLD WAR. THE FIGURE BECOMES A UNIVERSAL SOLDIER – A REMINDER OF THE HUMAN BEINGS BEHIND THE HISTORY OF CONFLICT.”

Mark Humphrey

“AS PART OF THE LEGION’S “THANK YOU 100” CAMPAIGN, THE STATUE HONOURS THE CENTENARY OF THE END OF THE FIRST WORLD WAR AND SYMBOLISES THE COURAGE AND SACRIFICE OF SOLDIERS WHO SERVED. THIS TEMPORARY DISPLAY ALLOWS THE COMMUNITY TO REFLECT AND SHOW GRATITUDE FOR ALL THOSE WHO HAVE FOUGHT FOR WESTERN FREEDOM THROUGH THE CENTURIES. AFTER ARMISTICE DAY, THE STATUE WILL BE MOVED TO FORT BURGOYNE, DOVER, WHERE IT WILL STAND AS A LASTING MEMORIAL OVERLOOKING THE WHITE CLIFFS.”   

Dover Council
Dover Town Council, Gov.UK