It is four years since we unveiled Andrew’s memorial to the Duke of Wellington’s Regiment in Halifax Town Centre. It was a spectacular occasion, one of Andrew’s proudest moments. Joyful pageantry and military precision created the perfect scenario to present this unique, stunning monument to a community so proud of their heritage. It was unveiled by the current Duke of Wellington and civic dignitaries of Calderdale Valley & Halifax to the sounds of the regimental and police bands.
The sculpture was commissioned to commemorate the founding of the Regiment in 1702. The brief was to create a distinctive memorial that would represent the Regiment’s connection to Halifax and Yorkshire and that would take centre stage on the brow of the High Street in the centre of the town. In 2020-21 Andrew’s sculpture was awarded the Halifax Civic Trust Award.
“The committee could not have selected a better artist for this commission. Andrew Sinclair has more than met the original brief and for this the committee are forever grateful.” – Brigadier Andrew Meek CBE
As a master of narrative realism Andrew was keen to bring alive the stories of all those affected by the work of the Regiment – the soldiers, the families and the community. A trade-mark feature of Andrew’s work is to bring people to life and tell their stories through visual narrative. The final sculpture can be viewed from every angle, each side revealing a different and unique part of the story. There is no front or back, simply one complete story told in the round. At its heart the sculpture features four life-size soldiers. Each one represents a moment in time – from the War of Independence up to the 20th Century Afghanistan campaign. And central to the piece is the 1st Duke of Wellington himself. His portrait an accurately scaled sculpture whose measurements were taken from the original marble sculpture by Joseph Nollekens.
The Memorial is now a popular visitor attraction and is the chosen site for the annual Armistice Day remembrance. The local community has taken the Memorial to their hearts where it has become a focal point for friends to meet, as well as a place for quiet reflection. We are so proud that the Monument has become a memorial to the many and great sacrifices made by the Regiment and a lasting legacy for their families to cherish for years to come.
Read more about the project HERE