Joseph Hermon (often spelt ‘Herman’) Cawthra (1886–1971) was a sculptor, born at Wilmer Road, Shipley.
His father, Silas Cawthra, was in the wool trade and intended for Hermon to follow in his footsteps. However, his mother encouraged his drawing and painting, and after his day school, at Belle Vue Boy’s Secondary, Hermon attended evening classes at the Salts Art School, Saltaire. Aged around 15 years he started work as an apprentice wood carver then went on to study at the Leeds College of Art, and from there won a scholarship to the Royal College of Art (1909-11) and Royal Academy School (1912-16).
When he left the London art schools he worked as an assistant to the English sculptor, Paul Raphael Montford, but in 1919 began to work independently as a sculptor. He worked from a studio in Chelsea and gained commissions for public statues, and particularly for WW1 war memorials that were in demand around the country in the 1920s.
Relief on the Bury War Memorial
His numerous public works include the Bury War Memorial (see above); the Burns Statue at Dumfries cemetery; a group of four figures at Leeds Civic Hall; Manchester Town Hall extension; bust of King George V in Mombassa, East Africa; and the statue of Britannia, Piccadilly Circus, London. However, Cawthra considered the airman on the war memorial at Bootle, Lancashire (shown below), as one of his best works. It was unveiled by Major James Burnie. M.C. on 15 October, 1922.
He was for some years Head of the Sculpture School at Bournemouth Municipal College and in 1937 was elected a Fellow of the Royal British Society of Sculptors.
His work was showed regularly at the Royal Academy of Arts, and at Royal Glasgow Institute of the Fine Arts, and Walker Art Gallery, Liverpool. Queen Mary bought a small bronze statuette from him in 1931.