Pujji Memorial

Commission to commemorate all those volunteers who came forward to serve Britain during various campaigns since 1914

FrancisKnight were appointed by Gravesham Borough Council to project manage a public art commission sited in the re-landscaped riverside area of St Andrew’s Gardens, as part of the £120 million planned Heritage Quarter by developers Edinburgh House. The commission commemorates all those volunteers who came forward to serve Britain during various campaigns since 1914. FrancisKnight services included liaising with the developers, desk research, final artist selection, appointment and managing the artist’s schedule through to final installation and unveiling in November 2014.

Artist Douglas Jennings (ARBS) was appointed to sculpt a bronze life and a quarter size statue of Squadron Leader Mahinder Singh Pujji reflecting his days of service in the RAF.

Squadron Leader Pujji is one of the 2.5 million servicemen who came from the Indian subcontinent, the largest volunteer army in history. In 1940 he was one of the 18 qualified Indian pilots who volunteered for the Royal Air Force. He had a distinguished career during WWII flying with 43 Squadron and being awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for his bravery.

Douglas Jennings is a leading figurative sculptor based in the UK. His creations of portraits and statues can be seen worldwide from The Royal Collection at Buckingham Palace to high profile public commissions including the celebrated statue of Johnny Haynes at Fulham Football Club Stadium. His artistic approach to sculpture lends itself to Classical Realism with varied use of medium, sculpting with sensitivity to the human form whether in miniature or large scale bronze.