Williams Supports Call for Statue to Slim
March 20, 2008 2:49 PM
Slim
Stephen Williams MP has lent his support to the campaign for a statue in memory of Field Marshall Slim. The second world war hero of the Burma fight against the Japanese was born in 1891 in Upper Belmont Road, in the Bristol West constituency. He is already commemorated by a statue outside the Ministry of Defence in Whitehall but there is no memorial in Bristol.
Stephen said, "It is time for one of Bristol's famous sons to be remembered in the city of his birth. A statue would be a fitting tribute and could join the statues that have been unveiled in the last decade to other famous Bristolians ranging from Cary Grant to William Penn."
William Slim was born on 6th August 1891, in Bishopston, Bristol. Slim, who fought in World Wars One and Two, was one of Britain's most outstanding military commanders.
During World War One, Slim was injured in Gallipoli and Mesopotamia. He was subsequently awarded the Military Cross for his conduct during the campaign in Mesopotamia
Following the outbreak of the Second World War, Slim, who had now been promoted to the rank of Colonel, took part in the East Africa campaign to liberate Ethiopia from Mussolini's forces. It was during the attempt to liberate Ethiopia from fascist control that Slim was injured for a third time during combat.
However, Slim's biggest contribution to British military success was yet to come. In March 1942, he was promoted to lead the 1st Burma Corps, who had been forced to retreat from Rangoon by the Japanese. Under his direction, a disorderly retreat was replaced by an orderly and efficient military withdrawal and the British campaign in Burma, - which would prove pivotal in the War's eventual outcome - began to gain momentum. After cementing his position as a prudent and adept military commander, Slim was promoted to commander of the Eastern Army in October 1943.
Slim then set about training and equipping his men with the necessary skills to re-take Burma from the Japanese. Following the Allied victory in Burma, of which his forces were to prove decisive, Slim was promoted to General on 1 July 1945.
Slim's success in the military theatre has been attributed to his self-depreciative and unorthodox style. Slim, who spent a large proportion of his time as a senior commander in the presence of, and conversing with his men, was not only considered a great military tactician but a 'man of the people'.
On 15 July 1960, he was created Viscount Slim, of Bishopston in the City and County of Bristol.
Following a successful post war career, Slim died on 14 December 1970. He was given a full military funeral at St. George's Chapel, Windsor, and a statue commemorating Slim resides at Whitehall
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