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Unveiling of Keith Park statue at Thames, NZ 27 April 2019 photo courtesy Chris Ball
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The 82nd Battle of Britain Anniversary Commemorations in Thames, NZ on Sunday 11 September 2022 at the
Thames Airfield, New Zealand. This bought to mind history of the Battle of
Britain and New Zealanders among those in the aerial defence and combat in the skies over the UK.
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Flyover during unveiling of Keith Park statue at Thames, NZ 27 April 2019 photo courtesy Chris Ball
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Battle of Britain - 10th July – 31st October 1940. Enter into the
arena of this battle, in command of No 11 Group of the RAF. One, Keith Rodney
Park (Decorated Air Chief Marshal Sir Keith Rodney Park, GCB, KBE, MC &
Bar, DFC). Park a New Zealander born in Thames New Zealand 15 June 1892. The
area of defence by the No 11 Group was in the air over the South East England
and London. Park. After the Battle of Britain, Park was moved as fighter command to
training command. Later war operations saw Park in RAF command Malta and the
Far East.
Not long after World War II , at the New Zealand Society's annual
London dinner, February 1947 Lord Tedder, head of the RAF on Park was to say: -
“ If ever any one man won the Battle of
Britain, he did. I don’t believe it is realised how much that one man, with his
leadership, his calm judgment and his skill, did to save not only this country,
but the world.”
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Flyover Thames, NZ 27 April 2019 photo courtesy Chris Ball
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" Fast forward" to 2008 in England. An international campaign was
initiated to see a permanent statue of Park in recognition of his work as
commander of No. 11 Group during the Battle of Britain.
A temporary fibreglass statue was placed on the Fourth plinth in
Trafalgar Square, England – significant with history and art meeting – the empty Fourth Plinth having a history of creativity
and sculptures planned from 1841 to fill the empty space.
At the 70th
Anniversary Battle of Britain commemorations on 15 September 2010, Waterloo
Place - unveiled- a permanent
bronze statue of Park. Recognition of what could be said to be “ a forgotten
hero.” Recognised for the combat and defence in the skies, of Park and the 11th squadron, in the
Battle of Britain seventy years prior.
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Flyover in the skies Thames, NZ 27 April 2019 photo courtesy Chris Ball
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" Fast forward " in 2019 to Park's hometown in Thames, New Zealand. On the 27 April 2019, a full
military ceremony saw the life size bronze statue of Park unveiled in
front of the Thames civic centre ( formerly the RSA building ) at Thames, New
Zealand.
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| kaumatua Wati Ngamane -mihi and karakia at beginning of ceremony - 27 April 2019 - photo courtesy Chris Ball |
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A phone call from my cousin
Stewart in Australia, cemented this outing for us . Stewart's son Mark Whyte, a
sculptor and artist, had been commissioned by the Hare family to craft
a life size statue in bronze. This of Sir Keith Park which was made
possible, with a bequest in her will, from Betty Hare. (This was our chance
to also catch up with Mark and baby Cora.) Also to meet with Jonathan
Campbell who did the casting in bronze, of the Park life size statue with the
artist and sculptor, Mark Whyte.
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From Left Mark Whyte sculptor with baby Cora, Jonathan Campbell bronze caster at ceremony 27 April 2019
- photo courtesy Chris Ball |
This bequest of $200,000 was
left as Betty Hare felt that Sir Keith Park was worthy of more
recognition in his country New Zealand and birth place Thames, NZ. Sir Keith
Park had played a major role in the Battle of Britain WWII, having been
promoted to the rank of Air Vice Marshall. Park was said to be responsible for
the fighter defence of London and South east England.
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| Wendy Hare - niece of Betty speaking at the unveiling ceremony of James Park statue - photo courtesy Chris Ball |
There were a number of speakers at the unveiling of the Park statue, along with a very large crowd watching the proceedings of this very memorable occasion.
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| Lesley Park - niece of Sir Keith Park speaking at ceremony - photo Chris Ball |
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speaker Sue Christie, councillor TCDC and Russell Skeet historian and convenor of ceremony unveiling of Keith Park statue
- photo Chris Ball |
Mark Whyte who usually
specialises in stone sculptures , is no stranger to bronze works.
Prior to the Park life size statue at Thames NZ, Whyte had been
commissioned to do the twelve bronze busts of prominent Cantabrians. A mixed
and diverse bunch of contributions to Christchurch via business,
culture, sport and the arts. The twelve bronze busts commissioned by the Local Heroes trust are of Sir Don Beaven, Frank Dickson, Sir Richard Hadlee,
Lady Diana Isaac Elsie Locke, Charles Luney, Margaret Mahy, Sir Tipene O’Regan,
Sir Robertson (Bob) Stewart, William Sutton, Sir Angus Tait, Sir Miles Warren.
A further search of the
internet finds Napier New Zealand has another of Whyte's bronze sculptures -
" A wave in time" on Emmerson Street - Sheila Williams and her
dog Raven - a reminder of the 1933 street carnival held to mark Napier
recovery from the 1931 Napier Earthquake.
Definitely beautiful creative
art work by Mark Whyte and a tribute at Thames, NZ to a " forgotten hero" of history - Sir Keith Rodney Park.
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statue of Sir Keith Rodney Park unveiled Thames NZ 27 April 2019
- photo courtesy Chris Ball |
Now a final " fast forward" to 2022 and the Thames Airfield, NZ - now carrying the name - Sir Keith Park Memorial Airfield. The 82nd commemorations of the Battle of Britain reveal step one of another memorial to Park - the erection of a full- sized replica Hurrican Fighter and in the future a 2.3m bronze statue of Park in his flying uniform - a project of Sir Keith Park Memorial Inc
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