Alec Penstone (Image: MATT SCOTT-JOYNT )
A 100-year-old veteran paid tribute to 1,475 fallen comrades as “the real heroes” after a stunning art installation opened overlooking the British port from where many embarked on their final voyage. Able Seaman Alec Penstone served on D-Day branded the Standing With Giants commemorative memorial tribute at Portsmouth’s Fort Nelson as “absolutely marvellous”.
He said: “It’s a real credit to the people who thought about it and put them up. It’s a wonderful idea and I’m so grateful to them. The people of my generation know what it’s all about, and these are all here to show the present generation what can be done. Thank you so much.” The silhouettes depicts the number of men, under British command, who were killed on 6 June 1944. Made from recycled advertising hoardings, then hand-cut into shape, they have been installed across the parade ground at the Hampshire site. The tribute also features 50 French resistance silhouettes.
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Standing with Giants at Fort Nelson (Image: -)
They look down onto Portsmouth Harbour, from where many of the men they represent set sail for Normandy to liberate Northern Europe from the Nazis.
The installation most recently stood at the British Normandy Memorial in Ver-sur-Mer, located above Gold Beach, one of the landing areas for British forces, where those depicted by the silhouettes would have been killed.
AB Penstone served on HMS Boadicea during his stint in the Royal Navy. He was commemorated for carrying four people out of a burning building when he was aged just 15. The Isle of Wight native has never forgotten his service, continuing his support for the nation via the Poppy Appeal by being the oldest and longest-serving poppy seller.
“The more you show them, the better it will be for all of us. There’s not many of us now. Last year when I went back to Normandy, I realised the amount of people we killed unintentionally from our bombing and shelling. It hurt me.”
SWG arrival at Fort Nelson
Referencing the soldiers depicted in the silhouettes, he added: “They were all heroes, every one of them. They called us heroes, but that’s not right. We were the lucky ones who came back. I’m so pleased these are being shown.”
Standing with Giants was created by Dan Barton, from Stanton Harcourt, near Witney in Oxfordshire, who described the work as “The People’s Tribute”.
He said: “I’ve had so many people cry in my arms and I can’t even begin to tell you what that feels like. It’s life-changing.
“It’s a way of telling youngsters to be mindful of where their freedom came from.”
Teams of volunteers, many of them ex-services, helped Mr Barton install the figures. Each one was drilled into the ground, with the most exposed supported with ropes.
Andy Gatherer, a volunteer and veteran of the Falklands War, believes the display is a powerful way of reminding people of the human cost of conflict.
Veterans Bert Courtney, Alec Penstone and Henry Rice (Image: MATT SCOTT-JOYNT)
He said: “I lost 13 of my shipmates on HMS Glamorgan back in 1982, and we had to bury them at sea.
“So the 13 silhouettes that I have from the Falklands display, I can look at and I feel they are my shipmates.
“I can touch them and walk amongst them and feel like they are back with me again.”
Terry and Carol Nye, visiting the fort and walking among the figures, found the experience profoundly moving.
Mr Nye said: “It represents the futility of war. It really is something that everyone should come and see, certainly the youngsters.
“I found it quite emotional when I first came in and looked. These are human beings that gave their lives for us, and I think that really brings it home when you are stood here.”
Standing with Giants at Fort Nelson (Image: MATT SCOTT-JOYNT)
The installation is free to view, but Royal Armouries, the world’s oldest museum which owns Fort Nelson, is asking people to contribute to a fundraising campaign to cover the costs and also register to attend.
The memorial will stay at the fort much longer than planned, up until 26 January, because of high interest.
The silhouettes will then cross the English Channel to return to Normandy for next year’s D-Day commemorations.
Fort Nelson, owned by the Royal Armouries, stepped in to host the D-Day tribute at short notice, following a nation-wide appeal for a new venue, after plans fell through at another site, to ensure it will be on display for Remembrance Day, 80 years after the Second World War ended.
The art installation will be on display from 22 October to 25 January. Tickets are
available at http://bit.ly/4otYzJ0 and need to be booked in advance to guarantee
entry.
Bert Courtney (Image: MATT SCOTT-JOYNT)
The tribute has been at the British Normandy Memorial in France, where it was seen by more than 200,000 visitors. More than 300 volunteers are now helping to construct the tribute at Fort Nelson, in time for its opening next week.
Nat Edwards, Master & and Director of Royal Armouries, said: “As the National Museum of Arms and Armour, we want to tell the human stories behind the weapons and conflicts in our collection.
“There is no more relevant illustration of the sacrifice people made on D-Day than the silhouettes of the servicemen and resistance members represented at Fort Nelson.
“We wanted to offer the opportunity for people to come together around this important moment, when we remember what those before us gave for our freedom.”
Lizzie Puddick, Public Engagement Manager, at Fort Nelson, added: “We were overwhelmed by the number of people wanting to come and see the D-Day tribute. After talks with Standing with Giants, we will now display the tribute at Fort Nelson
until January.
“We hope as many people as possible will be able to see this poignant tribute and we are asking visitors to book their tickets in advance online at our website.”
Standing with Giants is a charity, founded and led by Oxfordshire community artist
Dan Barton. They create large-scale remembrance art installations using recycled building materials where possible and provide meaningful spaces for people to visit and reflect.
To make sure the display free for as many people as possible to see it, the Royal Armouries has launched a fundraising campaign, donations can be made at www.royalarmouries.org/fort-nelson.
Fort Nelson is open Tuesday to Sunday 10am – 4pm during termtime and daily during school holidays.