Erection date: 11/5/1969
{On the plaque facing west:}
To the memory of prisoners of war and victims of concentration camps, 1914 - 1945.
{On the plaque facing south:}
This memorial, erected by the London Borough of Brent with figures modelled and presented by the sculptor Fred I. Kormis was unveiled on the 11th May 1969.
West Hampstead Live has a quote from Kormis explaining that each of the first 4 seated figures illustrates an aspect of his war experiences as a prisoner of war. The last standing figure expresses hope for the future.
Bridgeman has a photo captioned: "Maquettes for the Prisoner of War Memorial in Gladstone Park, London, 1969 (plaster)".
Site: Prisoner of War statue group - Kormis (1 memorial)
NW2, Dollis Hill Lane, Gladstone Park
This sculpture group is behind railings in a locked garden. In our photo the white plaque is facing forwards, the other, is directly below the white one, on the low white wall, facing to the right, south.
West Hampstead Live tells how Kormis was creating the work long before a site was found. Eventually his friend Freeson arranged for it to be placed here in Gladstone Park.
Announcing a 2024 exhibition of Kormis's work the Jewish Telegraphic Agency describes this sculptural group as "Britain’s first memorial to victims of Nazi persecution".
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