Churchill – The D-Day Statue
BRING CHURCHILL TO NORMANDY
Help us complete the British Normandy Memorial with a statue of Britain’s wartime leader
The Normandy Memorial Trust invites all who take pride in Britain’s values — and who believe Churchill’s leadership still speaks to us today — to support the creation of ‘Churchill – The D-Day Statue’, a powerful tribute to the courage and resolve that secured our freedom.
The statue would be a twice life-sized bronze statue of Churchill created by acclaimed artist and sculptor Paul Rafferty with the setting by multi-award winning Memorial architect Liam O’Connor.
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WHY CHURCHILL AT THE MEMORIAL
Watch this short film about the Normandy Memorial Trust’s vision for Churchill at the Memorial
A Message from Lord Soames
“It is fitting that my grandfather should stand among the names of those who gave their lives for freedom.”
An introduction to this unique project from The Right Honourable The Lord Soames of Fletching PC, Trustee of the Normandy Memorial Trust
‘Churchill – The D-Day Statue’ has the potential to be one of the most significant statues of my grandfather in recent times.
Churchill, the war leader who rallied the free world, in a majestic setting above one of the D-Day beaches where the tide of history was turned.
Churchill, the statesman who knew that tyranny must always be opposed, saluting those who made the ultimate sacrifice in the name of freedom.
This is a statue which matters – to me and my family and, I hope, to all those who wish to honour the memory of Winston Churchill and everything he achieved.
Of one thing I am quite sure. My grandfather would have loved this statue.
He would have recognised the artistic skill and attention to detail of sculptor Paul Rafferty.
He would have appreciated the superb setting created by architect Liam O’Connor – and he would have cherished the view, across ‘Gold Beach’ to the remains of the D-Day artificial harbour, ‘Port Winston’, beyond.
‘Churchill – The D-Day Statue’ is a tribute to one of the most important figures of our age, a man to whom we owe so very much. I hope you may feel moved to support it.”
Impact and Legacy
A lasting legacy of remembrance and education
‘Churchill – the D-Day Statue’ will depict the great war leader saluting the 22,442 men and women whose names are engraved on the walls and pillars of the British Normandy Memorial, of which this sculpture will be a significant new feature.
Positioned in ‘Churchill Court’, Churchill will appear in the clothing he wore when he visited the Normandy beaches six days after D-Day, on 12 June 1944, setting in context his defining role in the planning and execution of D-Day and the Battle of Normandy that followed.
There could be no more appropriate figure with which to complete the construction of the British Normandy Memorial than Winston Churchill. The statue will be a further striking reminder to educate the generations of the future of the courage and resilience which ensured victory in the Second World War. It will also link the Memorial to the Winston Churchill Centre for Education and Learning on the memorial campus, where the focus on education is an ever more important priority.
Cost and Timeline
We are appealing to the British public to help bring Churchill to Normandy.
Your support will help raise £1 million towards the creation of Churchill—The D-Day Statue – a lasting tribute at the British Normandy Memorial, honouring the leadership that inspired victory and safeguarded our freedom.
With planning permission and funding in place, our goal is to unveil the statue on D-Day, 6 June 2027.
All donors to Churchill Court will be invited to the official unveiling event and will be celebrated and recognised for their support.
How to Donate
Online:
Tax efficient donations with Gift Aid can be made directly through our dedicated JustGiving Campaign page: justgiving.com/campaign/churchillstatue
You can also donate through our main donate page here. If you use this method, please email Director of Development Julie Verne Julie.verne@normandymemorialtrust.org to confirm that your donation is made towards the Churchill Statue project.
Cheques:
Made payable to: ‘The Normandy Memorial Trust’ and sent to:
Julie Verne
Director of Development
c/o Hunters Gate
Chester
CH3 7BT
Donating from the USA/ Canada:
We are proud to partner with the Chapel & York US Foundation and the Chapel & York Canada Foundation, giving our supporters in both countries the opportunity to make safe, tax-efficient donations.
US donors: Please select ‘The Normandy Memorial Trust’ from the list of beneficiaries and indicate ‘Churchill Court’ as the purpose of your gift.
Canadian donors: Please select ‘Normandy Memorial Trust – Churchill Court’ from the list of beneficiaries. In line with our agreement with Chapel & York Canada, your gift will directly support the education programme aligned with Churchill Court.
Simply follow the link for your country below:
Your generosity will help us to complete Churchill Court at the British Normandy Memorial and to expand our educational work, ensuring remembrance and learning go hand in hand.
For further information about the project, sponsorship and recognition opportunities, or other ways to support, please contact Julie Verne, Director of Development: Julie.verne@normandymemorialtrust.org.
The Story of the British Normandy Memorial
The British Normandy Memorial was officially opened on 6 June 2021 by His Majesty The King (then Prince of Wales) as Royal Patron of the Normandy Memorial Trust.
The Memorial records the names of the 22,442 servicemen and women under British command who fell on D-Day and during the Battle of Normandy in the summer of 1944.
This includes people from more than 30 different countries. Inscribed in stone, their names were finally brought together on a hillside overlooking Gold Beach. The site also includes a French Memorial, dedicated to the memory of French civilians who died during this time.
On 6 June 2024 Their Majesties The King and Queen, Normandy Veterans and international dignitaries came together to mark the D-Day 80.
The Trust’s Royal Patron is His Majesty The King and Chair of Trustees is General Lord Richard Dannatt. You can find a full list of Trustees here.
Sign up for the Memorial e-newsletter at the bottom of the page.
The short film below tells the story of the Memorial, from the building process and its official opening, through to the 80th anniversary of D-Day.
