Tower of London’s poppy tribute

The Tower of London art installation entitled Blood Swept Lands and Seas of Redby artist Paul Cummins was created to commemorate 100 years since the start of World War 1.

The work consists of 888,246 ceramic poppies each of which represents a fallen soldier in the Great War and will be on display until the end of November when approximately approximately 8,000 volunteers will dismantle it.

Tribute to the fallen

Across the internet and news channels, companies like McCarthy & Stone have been reporting on how the Tower of London Remembers and  how the artwork is one of the most popular public art installations ever to be seen in the capital.

Once the piece has been dismantled, it will continue its journey around the UK until parts of the installation reaches its permanent homes in the Imperial War Museums in both London and Manchester.

The title of the piece comes from a moving part of a Will written by a dead WW1 serviceman: “the blood swept lands and seas of red where angels fear to tread”.

The installation has already received 5 million visitors, and this number is set to grow.

A moving art work

This year is the centenary of the start of World War 1 and the 70^th anniversary of the D Day landings in 1944. With war on many people’s minds, the last British forces leaving Afghanistan, hostilities in Ukraine and uncertainty in Syria and Iraq, the annual remembrance anniversary has commanded more support than ever before.

The National Gallery was another site in London where many flocked to observe the traditional two-minute silence, of the 11^th hour, on the 11^th day of the 11^th month.

13-year-old schoolboy cadet, Harry Hayes laid the final poppy at the Tower of London work. His Great Great Great Uncle died in France during the 1st World War.

The importance of remembrance in London

London is already home to the Cenotaph and other Great War memorials, but the installation at the Tower has focussed the thoughts of the world on the war that was supposed to end all wars.

The poppies were sold for £25.00 each and the money raised will go to help service charities including the British Legion. The BBC suggests that the sales could raise £15 million overall.

Poppies are used to symbolise the remembrance of the victims of war as they grew in abundance across the battlefields of Flanders. As spectators in London remembered the dead on the 11 November, poppy petals were showered on the heads of mourners at the Belgium based Menin gate.

Both young and old have paid tribute this November to the sacrifice made by the many young people during the Great War.

Thousands of Poppies

Thousands of red poppies tumble down the walls of the Tower of London into a sea of thousands more.  The ceramic poppies are the work of artist Paul Cummins.

The land and sea of red installation commemorates one hundred years since the start of the first world war.  Poppies will continue to be planted until there is one to represent every British or Commonwealth life lost.

From 5 August the poppies will go on sale for £25 each with 10% of the sales going to six service charities.  Details here.

Remembering and Honouring the Children of War

In St Paul's Cathedral below the dome is this art installation created by Ted Harrison to draw attention and remember children who have been conscripted and fought in adult wars.
At ground level the work appears as a white disc onto which poppies appear to have been scattered at random. From above the poppies form an image of three armed children. A boy from the first world war, a boy from recent conflicts in Africa and a girl from Asia.

Although Britain no longer sends anyone under the age of 18 to war many other countries do. An estimated 250,000 children worldwide are currently under military orders. Some as young as 9 years old. One third are girls.

Remembrance Sunday

Today is Remembrance Sunday.
The second Sunday in November is a day set aside to mark the anniversary of the end of the 1st World War at11:00 am on the 11th November 1918.

Red poppies are worn. Ceremonies will take place throughout the country.