Events – The Unveiling of the Monument to the women of World War II By Her Majesty The Queen in Whitehall, London, 9th July 2005

The idea of raising a monument to "The Women of World War II" arose from a letter, from a Canadian former female gunner, to the Chairman of "The Women of World War II Trust". A public appeal was launched and "The Trust" raised £350,000. A ceremony became possible when the National Heritage Memorial Fund – a fund set up in 1980 as a memorial "to those who gave their lives in war for this country" – made an "exceptional" award of nearly £1 million towards the memorial. With the generous support of other donors, and the assistance of public bodies, consultants and other services, it became possible to go ahead and commission the monument.

The Monument stands as an eternal tribute to the past and a promise to the future; that 7,100,000 women who contributed to the British Allied Victory in World War II will never be forgotten.

One of our members, Sheila Griffths, attended. She had been working as a Physical Education Teacher, a protected occupation, during the war with ancillary duties such as fire-watching, liaising with evacuated schools, organising entertainments for the troops, and, in holiday time, helping in a Red Cross hospital.

The ceremony took place in Whitehall on 9th July, two days after the suicide bombs in London . Security was very tight but the ceremony went ahead with Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II unveiling the monument following a service of dedication officiated over by the Bishop of London, the Rt. Rev, and Rt. Hon Richard Chartres D.D. FSA.

Sheila comments 'It was a truly memorable occasion. The Monument stands as a fitting and permanent recognition of the way in which women responded to the challenge issued by Sir Winston Churchill – "Let the Women come forward."