Statue of the Earl Mountbatten, London facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Statue of the Earl Mountbatten |
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The statue in 2016
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| Artist | Franta Belsky |
| Year | 1983 |
| Medium | Bronze |
| Subject | Earl Mountbatten |
| Dimensions | 2.9 m (9.5 ft) |
| Location | Mountbatten Green, London |
| 51°30′13″N 0°07′43″W / 51.503607°N 0.12866°W | |
This article is about a bronze statue of Louis Mountbatten, 1st Earl Mountbatten of Burma. He was a very important naval officer, known as an Admiral of the Fleet. The statue is located in London, England, on a place called Mountbatten Green, near Horse Guards Road in Whitehall. The artist who created this statue was Franta Belsky, and it was officially shown to the public in 1983.
What Does the Statue Look Like?
The statue stands 9 feet 5 inches tall. It shows Lord Mountbatten wearing his admiral's uniform. You can see his special awards, like the Order of the Garter. He is holding binoculars in his right hand.
There's a cool secret hidden inside the statue! In its left leg, there is a jam jar. This jar holds coins, newspaper clippings, and details about how the sculptor was hired.
The front of the statue's base tells you Lord Mountbatten's highest rank and title. It also shows the years he was born and when he passed away. The side of the base lists his important jobs during the Second World War. These jobs included being the Chief of Combined Operations and the Supreme Allied Commander in South East Asia.
How Was the Statue Made?
People started asking for a memorial to Lord Mountbatten in 1979. Letters were sent to The Times newspaper suggesting the idea. In 1981, more letters supported the plan. Even the Prime Minister, Margaret Thatcher, signed one of these letters. Leaders of other political parties and members of the armed forces also signed.
Queen Elizabeth II herself chose the perfect spot for the statue. The government looked into the idea in 1982. About £100,000 was needed for the memorial. This money was raised by people donating to a public fund.
The statue was put in place in October 1983. The area was guarded very carefully until the official ceremony. This special event happened on November 2, 1983. The Times newspaper reported that around 1500 guests attended. Many members of the British royal family were there. Also, 13 kings and queens from Europe came to the ceremony.
When the Queen officially showed the statue, she called Lord Mountbatten "Uncle Dickie." She spoke about his amazing qualities. She said he was full of energy and had many talents. He could think about big plans for the future. But he could also focus on tiny details of any problem. The Queen said he always wanted things to be perfect and knew his subjects very well.
After the Queen's speech, Gerald Ellison, who was the Bishop of London, performed a dedication. This is a special blessing for the memorial.
In 2001, the public could no longer go onto the green where the statue stands. This was because of security concerns.
