2018

WWI ‘Tommies’ to be unveiled to commemorate the 100 year anniversary of the end of the First World War

Date Posted: 8:57 AM on Wed, 18 July 2018

The unveiling is part of Gedling Borough Council’s plans to commemorate the 100 year anniversary of the end of the war. The metal silhouette figures of WWI soldiers, known as Tommies, will be installed at four points around the park including at the main entrance on Tuesday 17 July at 2.15pm.

The six foot aluminium Tommies are believed to be the first to be installed in Nottinghamshire and will be a permanent fixture at the park. The Tommies were the brainchild of the There But Not There Campaign, an organisation who are supporting a number of armed forces charities by making the Soldiers to raise money. The soldiers have been made by army veterans, employed by Royal British Legion Industries.

The council has also announced plans that on Saturday the 10 November at Arnot Hill Park from 11am, it will host a WWI commemorative event that will include choirs, brass bands, memorabilia displays, poetry readings and a poppy making activity hosted by Gedling Play Forum.

On Remembrance Sunday, as well as the annual memorial services, at 7pm across the nation, beacons will be lit to remember those who died during the war. The council will be lighting beacons at Arnot Hill Park and Gedling Country Park and bells will be rung across the borough at 7.05pm.

The plans follow the decision made by the council last year to increase the funding for remembrance services taking place this year. Extra money will be used to support the logistics such as traffic management, sound systems and bugler services at the key events across the borough. The council also recently supported the installation of a new war memorial at Carlton Cemetery to remember local soldiers who died after WWI.

Deputy Leader of Gedling Borough Council, Councillor Michael Payne said;

“I’m very proud to be unveiling these tributes to mark the centenary of the end of WWI and to those who lost their lives. The Tommy Soldiers figures remind us of the great sacrifices our armed forces gave and are giving for our country. They will act as focal points of remembrance and give visitors to the country park an opportunity to pay their respects.

Alongside the plans for events in November, the increase in funding for remembrance services and the unveiling of a permanent war memorial at Carlton Cemetery, we are making sure that these brave men and women are not forgotten but are commemorated appropriately.”