Statue of hero WWI airman nearly finished
THE statue of a Widnes Great War airman awarded Britain’s highest award for gallantry is almost finished.
A campaign to raise funds and build a tribute to Sergeant Thomas Mottershead began in 2014.
Money has been generated over the past few years by Sgt Thomas Mottershead Statue Appeal, while a grant from funding body WREN was also given the go ahead earlier in 2017.
The statue is due to be officially unveiled at the start of April 2018 in Victoria Park and will coincide with the centenary of the Royal Air Force’s (RAF) foundation.
Sgt Mottershead served in the RAF’s forerunner, the Royal Flying Corps and the statue has been sculpted by David Annand.
He was born on Vine Street in 1892 and his aircraft was ignited by German fire flying over the Western Front in January 1917.
Though Sgt Mottershead saved the life of his observer by landing behind British lines, the airman later died from the injuries he suffered.
He was awarded the Victoria Cross (VC) posthumously, with his wife being presented with her late husband’s medal by King George V in London in June 1917.
Statue appeal secretary and founder Tony Miller said: “I’m really chuffed about how far we’ve got, I can’t wait to see the finished product and installed.
“Even though the statue will be in situ well before the unveiling, I’m sure people will still enjoy the unveiling at next year’s Easter weekend.”
It will be the second such statue in the borough commemorating those who served in conflicts, the first being that of Private ‘Todger’ Jones VC, installed in Memorial Gardens in Runcorn in 2014.
Only £300 is required to complete the appeal’s £60,000 fundraising target.
Events where the appeal hopes to raise the last of the funds includes the North West Vintage Rally in Victoria Park and the Burtonwood Nostalgia Weekend in September.
Once the amount is raised, Tony intends to start an appeal to raise funds for a statue to Acting Lieutenant Thomas Wilkinson, who like Sgt Mottershead was awarded a posthumous VC and was from Widnes.
He was given the award during the Second World War for actions in the Far East against the Japanese. ●