1914-1944
Gordon Square, London
Initially employed as the first female wireless operator in the war efforts, Khan was subsequently recruited as a Special Operations Executive (SOE) and was sent to occupied France 1943. In October of that year she was betrayed by a Frenchwoman and arrested by the Gestapo. She was sent to Germany’s Pforzheim prison and was kept in chains in solitary confinement.
In September 1944 Khan and three other female SOE agents were transferred to Dachau concentration camp and subsequently executed on 13th September, with her last word being, ‘Liberte’.
As I take in the sculpture, a man opens up with information on Khan, what she stood for, and how, as a woman of colour she is rare, particularly in art. He also says there is a film to be made about her life. I’m pleased someone is showing an interest. As I walk away I notice he has a cat on a lead. Now I don’t know what to believe anymore.
The bust was unveiled in 2012.
Sculptor Karen Newman. http://www.karen-newman.com/
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