158 Squadron Memorial by Peter Naylor
In this November’s issue of Dalesman, I met the man who sculpted the memorial to 158 Squadron, Bomber Command, who flew from Lissett Airfield.
Every November, when Remembrance Day comes around, I hear yet another humbling story of the courage of ordinary people who were called upon to do extraordinary things.
‘Bluey’ Mottershead, who flew in 158 Squadron, told me: “Many people like myself didn’t consider being shot down. We never thought about it. I had 14 gunners fly with me on operations, in all. They told me the best way: my job was to fly; the navigator’s job was to get us there.”
‘Bluey’ was lucky enough to survive his time in Bomber Command, but many were less fortunate.
Peter Naylor, the artist who designed the Memorial sculpture at Lissett Airfield, studied as much as he could about the airmen he was commemorating. He says, “Bomber Command ran missions every night from September 1939 until the end of the War. ”
He adds, “When a plane was carrying 10 tons of incendiary bombs and 100 gallons of aviation fuel, if it was hit, it just vapourised into the sky. The people in Bomber Command had the courage to keep going out, night after night, after seeing planes next to them just blow up and disappear.”
Peter said that he found many books, and that interest in the 1939-45 War doesn’t seem to be waning. He speculates: “I think perhaps one reason for that is because it was absolutely a national war – everyone was involved, and the nation was united.”
Even after making the memorial, Peter is still discovering more about the men who served in 158 Squadron. This is because he also made a miniature of the sculpture, and says, “People still come to buy the miniatures, and everyone has a story to tell.”
“I try to take the details of everyone who buys a miniature, like a little family. I mean to compile all their stories into a dossier.”
The sculpture won the Marsh Award for Excellence in Public Sculpture, and Harry Irons accompanied Peter to collect the award. Peter says, “Harry joined up when he was under age. He knew that the life expectancy was about six weeks – he was a real hero.”
Peter says he’s never had a commission that means as much to him as the 158 Memorial, and he is now interested in making other Memorial Sculptures. He has bid to make one to mark the contribution of the Women’s Land Army – so we may be hearing more of Peter Naylor and his work.
INFORMATION:
The 158 Memorial stands beside the road from Lissett to Gransmoor.
The Squadron Association holds an annual memorial service over the first weekend of September. For details, see www.158squadron.co.uk, or telephone 0181 467 6775
Miniatures are available from Peter Naylor, who also gives talks about the Memorial. Contact him on 01482 868311, or at www.peternaylor.co.uk