United Kingdom National Inventory of War Memorials
Supported By The Imperial War Museum

Women of World War II

UKNIWM Ref: 51288

Address

Whitehall
Westminster
GREATER LONDON
ENGLAND
SW1A
 
Type: CENOTAPH
Other Location Details:

In centre of street between Cabinet Office and MOD

OS Map Ref: TQ 300 790

Inscription

(East and west faces) THE WOMEN OF WORLD WAR II

(South face) This memorial was raised to/ commemorate the work done by/ nearly seven million women in/ World War II

(North face) Unveiled by/ Her Majesty the Queen/ July 9 2005

Components

ComponentMaterial(s)HeightWidthDepthCondition
CENOTAPH BRONZE 7m     GOOD

Physical Description

Bronze cenotaph, around which hang seventeen uniforms representing the different services performed by women during WW2, including Land Army and canteen ladies overalls, Wren uniform, nursing cape, welders helmet, a police overcoat and others.

Wars Commemorated & People Remembered

War SECOND WW CIVILIANS
Total names on memorial: 0
Served & Returned 0
Died 0
Is this an exact count? Yes, an exact count
How are the names ordered? Not known
What information is listed on the memorial? None
Is a list of names on the memorial held by the UKNIWM? No
War SECOND WORLD WAR
Total names on memorial: 0
Served & Returned 0
Died 0
Is this an exact count? Yes, an exact count
How are the names ordered? Not known
What information is listed on the memorial? None
Is a list of names on the memorial held by the UKNIWM? No

Maintenance

Are the letters difficult to read? No
Who is responsible for the memorial?

Maintenance History:

Ceremonies

Date: 09 July 2005
RolePerformed By
UNVEILING HM QUEEN ELIZABETH II

Sponsorship

Sponsorship Type: Other
Did this include a trust or scholarship? No
Did this include a roll of honour? No
Cost of Site: Not known
Cost of Memorial: £1.3 million
Comments on Costs:

£1 million was given by National Lottery Fiund, the remainder was raised by public subscription.Museum of London Archaeology Service monitored site of memorial during recent excavation.

Craftsmen

NameOccupation
JOHN W MILLS SCULPTOR
Art Founders Ltd FOUNDRY

References

Co-ordinator's Comments:

The movement for this memorial was started in 1997 by retired Maj David Robertson, who learned learned from a Canadian that many Allied countries had memorials to women in WW2 but not the UK. The Princess Royal, Baroness Boothroyd and Vera Lynn were among those who joined the fundraising trust. The original design, chosen in a competition, showed a female air raid warden sheltering children, with the uniforms circling the plinth underneath, but was simplified.

Comments:  
Photographs: 5
Other Documents: None
Form / Letter: O
Negatives: No
Drawings / Plans: No
Minutes: No
Press Cuttings: 17
Publication NameAuthorDate PublishedPage / DateOther Information
The Wartime News     15 / February 2007 Letter to editor