The Prisoner of War Memorial in Gladstone Park, by Kilburn-based artist Fred Kormis, was listed by the department for culture, media and sport on Friday. Mr Kormis, who lived in Greville Place until his death in 1944, was a hostage during the First World War before he escaped to Frankfurt in 1920. He and his wife Rachel fled to England in the 1930s when #%!@ came to power, and his major ambition was to create a memorial to commemorate prisoners of war and their struggle. The sculpture of five male figures was unveiled in the park in 1969 and explores themes of freedom and captivity, with each figure in a different stage of emotional turmoil. The listing was made on the advice of the government’s heritage body, Historic England, Grade II-status is usually reserved for buildings and marks structures of special interest, which should be preserved for future generations.
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