Statue created in honour of The Forgotten Army

A STATUE commemorating North East World War Two hero Len Gibson is to be unveiled in a South Tyneside park.

- By DAVID HUNTLEY

To mark the 80th year of VJ Day, philanthropist Brian Burnie has announced a permanent installation of a statue to remember the 'Forgotten Army, who served in Burma, at North Marine Park, South Shields.

Renowned sculptor Ray Lonsdale has created the piece, and is well-known in the region for his other public artworks, including the Tommy statue in Seaham and 'Gan Canny' in Keel Square, Sunderland. Speaking of the work, Ray said: “The importance of this particular statue is that it’s for The Forgotten Army, it’s for the people who were captured, tortured and worked to death in many cases.”