Earl Haig Memorial

Coordinates: 51°30′15″N 0°07′35″W / 51.50426°N 0.12631°W / 51.50426; -0.12631
Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

Earl Haig Memorial
The Earl Haig Memorial
Map
ArtistAlfred Frank Hardiman
MediumBronze
SubjectDouglas Haig, 1st Earl Haig
LocationWhitehall, Westminster, London
Coordinates51°30′15″N 0°07′35″W / 51.50426°N 0.12631°W / 51.50426; -0.12631
Listed Building – Grade II*
Official nameStatue of Field Marshal Earl Haig
Designated9 July 2014
Reference no.1066109[1]

The Earl Haig Memorial is a bronze equestrian statue of the British Western Front commander Douglas Haig, 1st Earl Haig on Whitehall in Westminster, London. It was created by the sculptor Alfred Frank Hardiman and commissioned by Parliament in 1928. Eight years in the making, it aroused considerable controversy; the Field Marshal's riding position, his uniform, the horse's anatomy and its stance all drew harsh criticism. The inscription on the plinth reads 'Field Marshal Earl Haig Commander-in-Chief of the British Armies in France 1915–1918'.

History

Hardiman had won the commission in competition with his fellow sculptors

King George VI laying a wreath at the base the following day, Armistice Day.[4]

The memorial has received some support in recent years but has also found itself the target of criticism. In the run-up to Remembrance Day 1998 the

A.C.A.B. graffiti from the memorial, following a Black Lives Matter protest.[6]

See also

References

  1. ^ Historic England. "Statue of Field Marshal Earl Haig (1066109)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 5 February 2021.
  2. ^ "Ledward, Gilbert (1888–1960) Sculptor – Your Archives". yourarchives.nationalarchives.gov.uk. Retrieved 16 April 2018.
  3. ^ George Lansbury to Alfred Hardiman, 5 February 1931, TNA WORK 20/186
  4. ^ Henry Moore Institute. "Henry Moore Institute". henry-moore-fdn.co.uk. Archived from the original on 12 January 2009.
  5. ^ "Why do we let this man cast a shadow over our war dead?". Daily Express. 6 November 1998.
  6. ISSN 0307-1235
    . Retrieved 4 June 2020.

External links