This UK Sculpture of Freddie Gilroy on Scarborough Seafront Will Make You Feel Really Small.
Introduction
The Freddie Gilroy sculpture on the Scarborough seafront, known as ‘Freddie Gilroy and the Belsen Stragglers’, stands at North Bay, Scarborough, North Yorkshire, UK.
Read the Poem on the Sculpture Plaque
“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
Freddie Gilroy Sculpture Scarborough: History of the Statue
The Freddie Gilroy statue, titled ‘Freddie Gilroy and the Belsen Stragglers’, stands at North Bay, Scarborough, North Yorkshire, UK. Additionally, a poem appears on a plaque fixed to the front of the bench where the sculpture sits.
Today, the statue serves as a poignant reminder of the sacrifices made by soldiers during the Second World War and the horrors they witnessed, especially those at Bergen-Belsen Concentration Camp. Tragically, Anne and Margot Frank were sent to this camp, where they both died of typhus in early 1945, shortly before its liberation on 15 April 1945.
War and Peace
People also view the sculpture as a symbol of peace and hope. In 2015, a replica was installed in Ypres, Belgium, to commemorate the centenary of the First World War. The Freddie Gilroy statue stands as a powerful reminder of the human cost of war and the lasting importance of peace. It’s a must-see for anyone visiting Scarborough, North Yorkshire, United Kingdom.
What is the Freddie Gilroy Sculpture Scarborough?
The sculpture ‘Freddie Gilroy and the Belsen Stragglers’ by artist Ray Lonsdale was created in 2011 after he heard Freddie Gilroy speak about his experiences at Bergen-Belsen. Lonsdale was deeply moved by Gilroy’s story and wanted to honour his bravery and sacrifice through art. The sculpture stands as a fitting tribute to Freddie Gilroy, a former miner and soldier from Durham, United Kingdom.
Freddie Gilroy’s Connection to Bergen-Belsen Concentration Camp
Freddie Gilroy was one of the first Allied soldiers to help liberate Bergen-Belsen Concentration Camp in April 1945. The sculpture shows him as an older man sitting on a bench, reflecting on the horrors he witnessed there.
Exploring the Art Medium
Ray Lonsdale made the sculpture from weathering steel to give it a natural, rusty appearance. He deliberately chose this material so the piece would appear to have endured the same hardships as Freddie Gilroy and the other Belsen Stragglers.
How to Get to the Freddie Gilroy Sculpture Scarborough
The sculpture ‘Will Make You Feel Really Small’ stands proudly on the North Bay seafront in Scarborough, United Kingdom. Unless you’re unusually tall, you might need a hand to climb onto the bench. There’s plenty of parking nearby, although it can get very busy in the summer months.
You can visit this attraction free of charge.
More Iconic Places to Visit in northern England
If you are planning a road trip or slow travel around northern England, I have also visited the Angel of the North sculpture near Gateshead, explored Tanfield Railway, the world’s oldest operational railway in County Durham, and stopped at the England–Scotland border layby, a well-known roadside viewpoint marking the historic boundary between the two countries.
Explore more of our other adventures and hidden gems.
