Anastasia Allmon



Anastasia Allmon

Mrs. E. Richardson

British Literature II

2 April 2007

The Women of World War II Memorial: a Symbol of Appreciation

The Women of World War II Memorial is located in the middle of the street on Whitehall near Downing Street in London, England. It is a public memorial, which was dedicated on the ninth of July, 2005, marking the 60th anniversary of the end of World War II. The memorial was unveiled by Her Majesty The Queen during the dedication ceremony, which contained prayers and a fly-past of helicopters crewed by women of the three services. This twenty-two foot high bronze sculpture was built to commemorate the contributions of women during WWII. Around the top of the rectangular sculpture, seventeen different uniforms are depicted, and closer to the bottom, the only words on the memorial are seen engraved in gold: The Women of World War II. This monument is dedicated to all the women who served for England in uniform and on the home front. The Women of World War II memorial demonstrates respect and appreciation through its symbolic details, its attitude of honor similar to that of “The Soldier” by Rupert Brooke, and its service as a reminder of sacrifice, resembling the poem “Futility” by Wilfred Owen.

Because The Women of World War II memorial was built to commemorate the seven million women who were of major help in WWII, the details of the statue are highly symbolic, communicating appreciation and respect towards women who contributed their efforts during the demanding war. The various uniforms around the top of the statue range from that of a nurse, to a masculine uniform, similar to that of a farmer. This symbolizes the variety of jobs and obligations women took responsibility for to help with the war effort; most of these roles were previously considered to be for men only. The variety of women’s contributions and the united war effort are represented by the placement of the uniforms; clothes of women in the forces hang alongside the working clothes of those who worked in factories, hospitals, emergency services, and farms. Out of seven million women who contributed during the war, more than 450,000 were in the forces, and half a million served in civil defense and emergency services. The appreciation and respect for these efforts and the variety of hard work done by women are symbolized by The Women of World War II memorial. The hanging position of the clothes is also a symbol of a job-well-done attitude. The clothes hang side by side, just as the women who wore them might have left them when peace finally arrived and their duty was done. This monument is not purely a military memorial, but a way to say thank you for the bravery demonstrated by women, especially those who had never left home before, but showed courage when their country called on them for help.

Not only does The Women of World War II memorial suggest respect and appreciation through symbolic details of the statue, but also through its attitude of honor, much like the attitude demonstrated in “The Soldier” by Rupert Brooke. The memorial does not glamorize war, nor does it worship women; their work was far from glamorous. The memorial simply gives respect, appreciation, and honor to women for their will to take on sudden and dangerous responsibilities and perform such intricate work with courage. This is similar to the spirit seen in “The Soldier”. This poem exhibits loyalty to England. This same type of loyalty was shown by the women of WWII, who left their families and children in order to help shape the outcome of the war and help their country any way possible. In the poem, the soldier is “a dust whom England bore, shaped, made aware, gave, once, her flowers to love, her ways to roam” (lines 5-6). This is characteristic of the women of England, who were mothers and wives, born and raised in this country, who felt it their duty to do what is in their power to help the country they love, after all England has given them. This sort of loyalty is what is honored by The Women of World War II memorial; it is a symbol of respect and recognition of effort.

The honoring spirit of The Women of World War II memorial does not prevent this statue from serving as a reminder of sacrifice, similar to the sacrifice seen in “Futility” by Wilfred Owen. When Winston Churchill declared, “Let the women come forward”, the female population sacrificed themselves and left their families and homes, in order to take on men’s jobs and fight for their country; they did what they were asked to do with bravery and selflessness. This memorial commemorates these sacrifices, communicating the country’s respect and appreciation. In “Futility”, the first line, “Move him into the sun”, corresponds to the work women did during the war, taking care of wounded or killed soldiers and adding their gentle touch to a brutal war. Also, the tenth line of the poem, “Are limbs, so dear achieved”, raises a question about the value of a human’s body parts. The many mothers fighting on the fields and taking care of wounded boys were the ones to answer this question, for they were the mothers who raised their sons, caring for their well-being to watch them grow. The Women of World War II memorial is a symbol of appreciation and a reminder for the sacrifice of women, as many lost their lives trying to save their men and children. “Futility” raises the question, “Was it for this the clay grew tall? O what made fatuous sunbeams toil to break earth’s sleep at all?” What is the sense in trying and fighting if everything ends in senseless death? The Women of World War II memorial was raised to show the public that the deaths of many women were not senseless, that they made a difference and their efforts did not go unnoticed, but were greatly needed and appreciated. This memorial stands as a reminder of the hard work and sacrifice women engaged in, showing respect and gratitude.

The Women of World War II memorial does not glorify war or fighting, it is simply a sign of appreciation to women for doing what their country asked them to do. The memorial is a symbol of respect to those mothers and wives who showed loyalty to their beloved country despite the destruction of their homes and families, those who took risks, and those who died from brutal treatment rather than betray their comrades or give up on their duty. The Women of World War II is a humble memorial, but it serves its purpose of gratitude through its symbolism, its attitude of honor, and its role as a reminder of sacrifice, as it reflects upon two war poems, “The Soldier” and “Futility”. For future generations, The Women of World War II memorial will forever be a reminder of seven million loyal women who did what was necessary for a greater cause, the freedom and peace of England.

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