New war memorial unveiled inspired by the Horsa Gliders

Harwell Science and Innovation Campus have unveiled The Horsa Sculpture.

This is a new war memorial inspired by the iconic Horsa Gliders which took off from RAF Harwell.

Created by Charlotte Holmes, an Oxfordshire-based artist, this commemorates the servicemen who took off from this site in June 1944.

Charlotte Holmes from Rogue Designs said: “”It is so important to tell the stories of these young people who fought for peace. I wanted to commemorate them in a contemporary way, because war is not a historical concern. It has been an honour to learn about their experiences, and to share the stories of the young men who took off from RAF Harwell 81 years ago.”

Cllr Bethia Thomas, Leader of Vale of White Horse District Council said: “We are proud to support this remarkable commemoration at Harwell Campus. The Horsa Sculpture reminds us of the district’s role in shaping history and of the individuals whose courage helped secure our freedom. It’s a fitting legacy for our community and future generations.” To further preserve this history, Harwell Campus is also building a web page to collate the first-hand accounts that inspired the artwork. This follows the launch of the Harwell Heritage Trail, which commemorates the site’s military past, including a waypoint near the Memorial Stone where visitors can listen to the campus’s RAF history.