Welcome to the Blog. This UK Artwork Will Make You Feel Really Small.
Introduction
This is the Freddie Gilroy art installation known as ‘Freddie Gilroy and the Belsen Stragglers’ is located at North Bay, Scarborough, North Yorkshire, UK
The Poem
“They said for king and country, we should do as we were bid. They said old soldiers never die – but plenty young ones did.”
Ray Lonsdale, Sculptor
History
The Freddie Gilroy statue called ‘Freddie Gilroy and the Belsen Stragglers’ is a Sculpture, North Bay, Scarborough, North Yorkshire, UK. This poem is written on a plaque fixed to the middle front of the bench in Scarborough, North Yorkshire on which the sculpture sits.
And it is a poignant reminder of the sacrifices made by soldiers during the Second World War. And the horrors that they witnessed. Such as those at Bergen-Belsen concentration camp. This was the same camp where Anne and Margot Frank were sent. They both died of typhus in February or March 1945, shortly before the camp was liberated on 15th April 1945.
War and Peace
The sculpture has also been used as a symbol of peace and hope. So, in 2015, a replica of the sculpture was placed in the town of Ypres in Belgium. To commemorate the centenary of the First World War.
The Freddie Gilroy statue is a powerful reminder of the human cost of war. And the importance of peace. It is a must-see for anyone visiting Scarborough, North Yorkshire, United Kingdom.
Who is Freddie Gilroy?
The sculpture art installation called ‘Freddie Gilroy and the Belsen Stragglers‘ by Ray Lonsdale who created the sculpture in 2011, after hearing Freddie Gilroy speak about his experiences at Bergen-Belsen. Lonsdale was deeply moved by Gilroy’s story. He wanted to create a sculpture that would commemorate his bravery and sacrifice. The fitting tribute to Freddie Gilroy, a former miner and soldier from Durham, United Kingdom.
Bergen-Belsen Concentration Camp
What is the connection to Bergen-Belsen Concentration Camp? Freddie Gilroy was one of the first allied troops to liberate Bergen-Belsen concentration camp in April 1945. The sculpture depicts Freddie Gilroy as an old man. He is sitting on a bench and reflecting on the horrors witnessed at the camp.
Art Medium
The sculpture is made of weathering steel, which gives it a rusty appearance. This is a deliberate choice by Ray Lonsdale. He wanted the sculpture to look like it had been through the same hardships as Gilroy and the other Belsen Stragglers.
Getting There
The UK Artwork Will Make You Feel Really Small sculpture is on the seafront at the North Bay, Scarborough, United Kingdom. Unless you are tall, you will probably need a helping hand to help you get up onto the bench. But, there is plenty of parking nearby. It gets very busy in the summer months.
There is no entry fee to this attraction.
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