Rifleman’s heroic actions marked by memorial statue
ARTIST TO UNVEIL GURKHA SCULPTURE IN SEPTEMBER
THE artist commissioned to create a Gurkha Memorial statue has said she is “honoured” to be part of the project, which will hopefully be unveiled at the end of 2021.
Sculptress Amy Goodman has been the creative brains behind other notable Hampshire memorials, such as the Romsey War Horse and the Aldershot Airborne Soldier.
She has been based in Project Workshops, near Andover, for 13 years and the artist credits it as one of Hampshire’s most creative spaces.
Amy was asked to be involved with the Gurkha Memorial project after the Aldershot Airborne Soldier was unveiled in July 2019 in the Princes Gardens.
Amy said: “I thought it would be amazing to make a piece to them and they have loyally supported the British Army for the past 200 years. I thought how incredible would it be to make another piece for this Aldershot park.”
The project has been commissioned by the Greater Rushmoor Nepali community in Aldershot and is supported by the Rushmoor Borough Council and the Gurkha Brigade Association.
Before sculpting began, Amy said there were a lot of ideas suggested for different poses, but they decided to focus on the heroic actions of World War One Rifleman Kulbir Thapa Maga.
Depicted in the memorial is the moment Kulbir carried a British
Tommy soldier off the battlefield, despite being injured himself.
Just before this moment, he had also saved two of his Gurkha comrades. For his bravery, the soldier received the Victoria Cross medal.
Capturing the moment was not easy. The Gurkha Museum in Winchester was able to lend the artist a few items, but most of her research came from images, archive material and her own imagination.
She said: “There’s only a couple of photos of Kulbir that I had to work from and they’re 20 years apart and different expressions, so there is a real challenge in creating an individual when you have limited source material.”
It is hoped that the finished product will be unveiled on September 25 – the same date Kulbir rescued his comrades and the British Soldier. The statue will stand in Princes Gardens, opposite the Aldershot Airborne Soldier.
The artist said: “It is great news that planning is looking good and we are on track for September – pandemic allowing of course.
“The world is very different, so the unveiling ceremony will be different to how it was originally envisioned a few years ago.
“It will be very scaled back – we want everybody to be safe and maybe there will be other plans in the future.
“But like all memorial sculptures it will be there for memorial and other anniversaries. That piece is there for individuals to go back to and respect.”
Sculpting the clay model started back in August 2020, and on Monday February 22 the moulding process for the finalised bronze statue began.
Amy’s journey with memorials began in 2014 when she was approached to make the Romsey War Horse, which now stands in Romsey War Memorial Park.
Amy said: “It was always my dream to cast a life-size horse, so when I heard there might be a war horse commissioned I was very tunnel visioned about being involved with that and was so thrilled when I got that job.
“I think it is so important to remember for youngsters today that they must know what has come before and before today.
“It is very important to remember the freedoms we have today is because of the sacrifices made before.
“I am very proud and honoured to be making these pieces and long may it continue.”
On February 17, Rushmoor Borough Council approved plans to place the Gurkha World War One memorial statue in Princes Gardens.
Posting on Facebook, Councillor the sacrifices made
Keith Dibble said: “At a time when there are questions being raised over some historical statue, we tonight will be approving a statue that represents our diverse community and acknowledges the important role Gurkha’s have played in the British Army.
“No one will question this statue in 100 years time. I fully support the application.”
Follow Amy on Facebook to see updates about her work and the Gurkha Memorial project.