Memorial to 'Warrior Birds'
| Browse information by: Location Makers General Information Classification Object Parts Object Condition History References Photographs |  Author: Anthony McIntosh Copyright for Photograph: Creative Commons |
Location
| Street: | Brighton Road |
| Town: | Worthing |
| Parish: | Worthing |
| Council: | Adur District Council |
| County: | West Sussex |
| Postcode: | BN11 |
| Location on Google Map | |
| Object setting: | Garden |
| and in: | Public Park |
| Access is: | Public |
| Location note: | In Beach House Park on a mound near to the entrance. |
| In the AZ book: | West Sussex |
| Page: | 171 |
| Grid reference: | J2 |
| The A-Z books used are A-Z East Sussex and A-Z West Sussex (Editions 1A 2005). Geographers' A-Z Map Company Ltd. Sevenoaks. | |
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Makers
| Name : | Leslie Sharp |
| Role: | Sculptor |
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General Information
| Commissioned by: | Nancy Price and members of The People's Theatre, London. |
| Construction period: | 1949 |
| Unveiling date: | 27/07/1951 |
| Work is: | Extant |
| Owner custodian: | Worthing Borough Council |
| Object listing: | Not listed |
| Description: | Two inscribed stones on top of a large, heavily planted mound (now metal fenced) near to the park entrance.The memorial was originally designed as a rockery with water bubbling out between rocks into a drinking pool. There were also two carved pigeons on top of the stone blocks but these were stolen. |
| Inscription: | IN MEMORY OF WARRIOR BIRDS WHO GAVE THEIR LIVES ON ACTIVE SERVICE 1939 – 45 AND FOR THE USE AND PLEASURE OF LIVING BIRDS Carved, black painted inscription to right hand stone: FOR A BIRD OF THE AIR SHALL CARRY THE VOICE AND THAT WHICH HATH WINGS SHALL TELL THE MATTER. Ecc.X.20. THIS MEMORIAL IS PRESENTED BY NANCY PRICE AND MEMBERS OF THE PEOPLE’S THEATRE, LONDON. Green metal plaque at the gate to the memorial: ON TOP OF THIS MOUND IS A MEMORIAL TO WARRIOR BIRDS WHO GAVE THEIR LIVES ON ACTIVE SERVICE 1939-45 IT IS ALSO FOR THE PLEASURE & USE OF LIVING BIRDS |
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Classification
| Categories: | Free Standing, Composite, Commemorative, Animal, Military |
| Object type1: | War memorial |
| Object subtype1: | World War II |
| Object type2: | Landscape |
| Object type3: | Marker |
| Object subtype1: | Inscribed stone |
| Subject type1: | Non-figurative |
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Object Parts
| Part 1: | Right hand stone |
| Material: | Forest of Dean stone |
| Height (cm): | 52 |
| Width (cm): | 170 |
| Depth (cm): | 94 |
| Part 2: | Left hand stone |
| Material: | Forest of Dean stone |
| Height (cm): | 48 |
| Width (cm): | 124 |
| Depth (cm): | 70 |
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Object Condition
| Condition 1 of type: | Surface |
| Condition 1: | Corrosion, Deterioration |
| Condition 2: | Biological growth |
| More details: | In 1999 the memorial was cleaned and the lettering was re-cut and painted black. |
| Date of on-site inspection: | 19/06/2008 |
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History
| History: | The memorial was the brainchild of the actress, writer and conservationist, Nancy Price (Lilian Nancy Bache Price 3 February 1880 – 31 March 1970). She attended the ceremony herself with Boney Whiteoaks (her green parrot), perched on her shoulder.
(http://www.findonvillage.com/0361_margot_and_nancy.htm) 'The National Pigeon service was organised during the 1939-45 conflict. All Forces and Services made use of the birds for conveying messages and making contact with allied agents all over Europe. The birds often flew in extremely harsh conditions at speeds of over 60mph. Most RAF bombers carried two pigeons and in an emergency the birds would fly home and teams of rescuers would be alerted. Secret armies of pigeons were regularly dropped behind enemy lines and used to relay messages from resistance members to ''Wing House'' in London…Hundreds of stories of bravery surround the 'Warrior Birds'. One such story is of Mary of Exeter. Mary made many a flight across the dangerous skies of Europe during the 1939-45 war period. She returned from one mission with a damaged wing and 3 shotgun pellets in her chest. Another mission saw her return with horrific injuries to her chest and neck. During her service flying for her country Mary survived bomb blasts and many other injuries. She flew from 1940 to the end of the conflict and ended with 22 stitches scarring her tiny body…The memorial was funded by Nancy Price and members of the People's Theatre, London. It was constructed in 1949 in recognition of the bravery of the ''Warrior Birds'' and unveiled by the Duke and Duchess of Hamilton in 1951' (Information board at the memorial). As an interesting aside - the 'G A' on the iron gates of Beach House Park were originally the memorial to Gertrude Ashworth (1870-1950), headmistress of the Warren School in the town. |
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References
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Photographs
Author: Anthony McIntosh Copyright: Creative Commons |  Author: Anthony McIntosh Copyright: Creative Commons |
 Author: Anthony McIntosh Copyright: Creative Commons |  Author: Anthony McIntosh Copyright: Creative Commons |
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