Statue of the Viscount Alanbrooke

The Statue of the Viscount Alanbrooke is a bronze monument to Field Marshal Alan Brooke on Whitehall in London, set on the lawn in front of the Ministry of Defence. Sculptor Ivor Roberts-Jones created it, and it was unveiled on 25 May 1993 with Queen Elizabeth II in attendance.

Who was Alanbrooke?

Alan Brooke (1883–1963), later Viscount Alanbrooke, served as Chief of the Imperial General Staff through most of the Second World War. He was Winston Churchill's principal military adviser and had a hand in shaping Britain's wartime strategy. The inscriptions on the plinth recall that role and his later post as Master Gunner, the ceremonial head of the Royal Artillery. Correspondence about funding and design dates from 1991 to 1993, and the unveiling closed that process.

What will you see?

The field marshal stands full-length on a tall plinth, and the whole monument rises to nearly four metres (3.95 m according to the Imperial War Museum's memorial register). Roberts-Jones also made the Churchill statue in Parliament Square, so you may notice the same bold, simplified treatment of the figure.

The statue is one of three Second World War commanders on the Ministry of Defence lawn. Field Marshals Slim and Montgomery stand on either side. Each has a different subject and a different sculptor, so it is worth walking the row and reading all three inscriptions.

How do you get there?

It stands on the east side of Whitehall, on the green strip in front of the Ministry of Defence building, in the heart of Westminster. Parliament, Downing Street and Horse Guards are a few minutes' walk away. The closest Underground stations are Westminster and Embankment, with Charing Cross a short walk to the north.

When should you go?

The monument is outdoors beside a busy road and can be seen at any hour without a ticket. Early mornings and weekends are calmest, with fewer commuters and less traffic. Daylight is best for photographs, taken from the pavement side.

Frequently asked questions

Who sculpted the Alanbrooke statue? Ivor Roberts-Jones. The neighbouring Montgomery statue is by a different sculptor.

When was it unveiled? On 25 May 1993, in the presence of Queen Elizabeth II.

Is there an entrance fee? No. It stands in the public space on Whitehall and is open to view at all times.

What else is nearby? The statues of Field Marshals Slim and Montgomery in front of the Ministry of Defence, then Horse Guards, Downing Street and the Cenotaph further along Whitehall.