Guests gathered on Friday, 14 March to mark the opening to the IBCC Women in War book festival, which featured the unveiling of ten striking steel silhouettes and the presence of esteemed ‘Modern Giants’.
The first ever all-female RAF flypast symbolising the strength and power of women in aviation, took place to mark the occasion. The flypast featured a spectacular prefect from 57 Squadron at RAF Cranwell, followed by a second, breath-taking display of one Atlas 400M from RAF Brize Norton and one Typhoon from XI (Fighter) Squadron at RAF Coningsby.
Nicky van der Drift, chief executive of the IBCC, said: "This exhibition is a testament to the IBCC's commitment to recognition, remembrance, and reconciliation. We are proud to honour the women who played such a vital role in protecting the freedoms we enjoy today.”
The ten steel silhouettes, crafted by Standing with Giants, honour the bravery and resilience of individual wartime women. They will serve as a lasting tribute at the IBCC to the vital roles women played during the war. The silhouettes include Joan Curran, Dorothy Robson, Sister Mollie Evershed, Sister Dorothy Anyta Field, Lettice Curtis, Margaret Hourigan, Muriel Blake, Renee Woods, Lady Stella Reading, Madeleine Damerment.
Making the journey from Australia and Italy to the IBCC, David and Elizabeth Hourigan, children of Margaret Hourigan, WAAF, attended the unveiling ceremony to see the matriarch of their family immortalised as a silhouette. Margaret attended the official opening of the IBCC in 2018 and sadly passed away on 7 January 2024 aged 101 years.
David Hourigan, said: “The family is intensely proud of our mother’s nomination to be a Woman of War silhouette. At such a young age, she chose to serve her country with personal qualities that she demonstrated throughout her life. She was a woman of great courage and dedication, dutiful and loyal, empathetic and decisive. The statue is a reminder of such a unique generation of women who served their country in World War II.”
The event also welcomed the ‘Modern Giants’, a group of distinguished women leaders from across the UK who have made significant contributions to their respective fields. The IBCC worked with these women to support the creation of the Women in War silhouettes and officially unveil them.
While the modern giants have all had very different experiences, there are several from within the Armed Forces, and many that have been recognised with Honours as well as other outstanding accolades. Their presence underscored the exhibition's theme of celebrating both historical and contemporary female achievements.
Notable attendees included Cressida Hogg CBE, Chair BAE Systems; AVM Suraya Marshall CBE, RAF Assistant Chief of Air Staff; Dame Anita Frew DBE, Chair Rolls Royce; and Baroness Hogg, IBCC Trustee and first woman to Chair a FTSE 100 company, among many others. Baroness Hogg, instrumental in driving the exhibition, emphasised the importance of recognising these often-overlooked heroines.
"By 1943, women were integral to the war effort, filling crucial roles in the armed forces, industry, and other wartime organisations," she said.
"These ten silhouettes represent the vast and varied contributions of women, whose capabilities were finally acknowledged in the face of their undeniable impact."
Nicky van der Drift added: “Our thanks go to all those who have played a part in bringing our Women in War silhouettes into existence and honouring their installation on what was an unforgettable day. And a special mention to the families and friends of the wartime women, some of whom went to extraordinary lengths to be present for the unveiling."
The ‘Women in War’ silhouettes will become a longstanding installation at the IBCC’s Memorial Spire. The exhibition unveiling was part of the broader Women in War Book Festival, held on 14 and 15 March, providing a comprehensive exploration of women's wartime experiences.
The IBCC, located in Lincoln, the heart of ‘Bomber County’, serves as a world-class facility dedicated to preserving the legacy of Bomber Command.
To learn more about the International Bomber Command Centre, visit its website here: internationalbcc.co.uk
