A stunning new sculpture honouring Black Country workers who carried out reserved occupations during the Second World War is to be unveiled in Sandwell.
And people are now invited to put forward names of family members who held reserved occupations to be added to the monument in time for its unveiling at St Luke’s Churchyard, Cradley Heath, this November.
Black Country sculptor Luke Perry was inspired by his grandfather Eric Attwood’s story to create the 12ft-tall steel sculpture of a worker, accompanied by a real anchor where names can be engraved.
A chainmaker, Eric Attwood was one of around five million men covered by the UK's Schedule of Reserved Occupations during the Second World War, which covered jobs essential to the war effort and daily life, working alongside women on the home front.
The monument – called Fighting from Home – has been part funded by the Arts Council together with Luke and his family’s factory Solid Swivel in Cradley Heath who have donated time and materials.
Sandwell Council has provided advice and support throughout the project, including carrying out a clean-up of the churchyard ahead of the monument’s unveiling ceremony at 2pm on Remembrance Sunday (9 November).
The monument’s unveiling this year coincides with the Remembrance Sunday closest to the 80th anniversary of the end of the Second World War.
Luke said: “This is something I have wanted to build for 10 years as my grandad and many of his friends had been in reserved occupations during the Second World War.
“These were men who couldn't sign up for military service as their trade was so important to the war effort. Like many men and women around here, he was a chainmaker and made ‘Navy Chain’ during the war.
“This monument is in memory of these uncelebrated men, many of whom suffered immensely from survivors’ guilt and a real fear that they didn't play their part despite the importance of their work.
“As a monument exclusively to reserved occupationists, I think it is unique in the UK and certainly unique in the Black Country and industrial Midlands where there has never been a memorial in recognition of these vital workers from that period.”
The monument will stand on the site of St Luke’s Church, now demolished, which was the historic home of many chain and anchor-making families, it being further along the same road as Hingley & Sons where the Titanic anchor and chain were made in 1910.
Luke added: “The sculpture’s features are based on my grandad as he was quite a striking man, and I hope that this is a fitting tribute to him and the many men of his generation who served the cause to fight fascism in their own way.
“I am very proud to have been able to make something that feels so solid and befitting to these men who sadly did not see any recognition in their own lifetimes. I hope this will be a symbol of strength and comfort to the families of those who worked and continue to work in important roles without which we could not be free.”
Councillor Kerrie Carmichael, Sandwell Council Leader, said: “We will join together at our annual Remembrance Sunday services and parades in November to commemorate the service and sacrifice of everyone who has defended our freedoms and protected our way of life.
“These services will have added poignancy this year with it being 80 years since the end of the Second World War, and we will proudly honour all those who served in our armed forces, and their families, from Britain and around the Commonwealth. We will remember those who sadly never returned home.
“We are also rightly proud of our industrial heritage, the role our industries and everyone on the home front played in the war and of industries that continue to thrive in Sandwell today.
“This humbling new sculpture, Fighting from Home, will pay tribute to all those Black Country workers who played their part in reserved occupations. This will ensure their stories and contributions to the war effort are remembered for generations to come.
“It is very fitting that the sculpture and anchor will be installed in Cradley Heath. It’s close to where many men will have worked in reserved occupations alongside women during the war, and just up the road from Luke’s women chainmakers’ monument at Mary Macarthur Gardens.
“I hope Fighting from Home becomes a monument shared by people across Sandwell and the wider Black Country.”
To put forward names of family members who carried out reserved occupations in the Black Country during the Second World War, please contact Luke Perry by emailing mr.l.perry@googlemail.com or calling 07710 379000.
People are welcome to attend the unveiling ceremony for the Fighting from Home monument, which will run from 2pm to 3pm on Sunday 9 November at St Luke’s Churchyard, Upper High Street, Cradley Heath, B64 5HY.
Find out about Remembrance services and parades across Sandwell’s six towns on the council’s website.