THIS is the stunning artist's impression of a twice-life-size sculpture which will one day serve as a lasting tribute to sailors in one of the loneliest – and most dangerous – professions - underwater warfare.

A frogman struggles to disarm a moored mine, a defining image of one aspect of the Royal Navy's mine countermeasures challenge, protecting life at sea and the nation's seaways for more than a century.

The Vernon Monument – named after the RN’s long-standing home of both the mine warfare and diving communities – is earmarked for a spot in the former non-tidal creek at the historic site of this famous ex-MoD establishment.

HMS Vernon closed nearly 15 years ago and the site has been since redeveloped into the hugely successful Gunwharf Quays shopping-leisure-housing complex on Portsmouth’s waterfront.

A little of the Victorian part of this venerable site remains, notably the Customs House (today a pub) and images of Vernon in its heyday can be found around the Gunwharf complex. But a determined collection of former specialists who served there felt something was missing – the human element.

The result is the Vernon Monument, which we alluded to briefly in an article championing the wartime deeds of John Ouvry in our January edition.

Well, this is how Australian sculptor Les Johnson imagines that memorial.

Thirteen artists vied for the prestigious contract, whittled down to three who then visited Gunwharf, HMS Collingwood's minewarfare section and the Fleet Diving Squadron HQ on Horsea Island for inspiration.

They produced maquettes – small-scale versions of their intended sculptures – for a panel of experienced ex-Vernon servicemen to examine; the latter decided Mr Johnson’s concept would most closely epitomise the combined branches' dangerous mine disposal role.

The full-size version of the sculpture will cost around £250,000 to create and install. The team behind Project Vernon – motto ‘nothing too awkward to achieve’ – is already around one fifth of the way to its target.

To help them with their fund raising task, a series of limited edition prints entitled  ‘Danger At Depth’, depicting a diver attaching explosive charges to a moored mine, has been produced by the marine artist John R Terry FCSD.

Some of the successful 215-sized run of A3-plus-size pictures are still available via the dedicated website, with prices starting at £75.

Mr Terry has now been commissioned to produce a second oil painting which will highlight the Ton Class MCMVs that played such a significant part in the history of HMS Vernon, both with the RN and RNR. More details about Project Vernon can be found at the above website where you can now also make a donation directly to the appeal, which as the Vernon Monument Fund is a Registered UK Charity.