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VOLUNTEERS IN LONDON have begun the process of removing the impressive poppy display at the Tower of London.
‘Blood Swept Lands and Seas of Red’ commemorated the centenary of the First World War.
Some 888,246 ceramic poppies had been planted since July.
More than five million people have travelled to the Tower of London to see the installation.
The display proved so popular that there was a campaign to make it permanent, but thousands of volunteers will dismantle the flowers over the coming weeks.
All images: John Stillwell/PA Images
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Visited it 2 weekends back, a fitting and moving tribute, memorial & lesson to the fallen, and the savagery of war. It really reinforces the scale of loss in the conflict and the complete and utter devastation caused by it to countless families.
The explainer panels that go with it around the site help reinforce and cement the objectives of the artist
I feel sorry for all people who died in all wars ………….
Great and fitting memorial. Went for a visit last week and its truly a spine tingling sight to see what each one stood for. Also the sell off will raise a lot of money for their charity.
I agree with the commentator in last week’s Guardian. Blood and barbed wire would have been more appropriate than “sanitised” artificial flowers which only commemorate the British dead. There are no symbols to commemorate the dead of Ireland, France, Germany, Austria, Netherlands, Spain, Italy, Russia, Argentina, etc. etc.
It was a bit jingoistic in my opinion.
The poppies commemorate the fallen of the commonwealth nations not just Britain.
Is a bit of an abstract discussion in my view – who decides what’s being commemorated by what?
If I decide to wear a poppy (or anything for that matter) I can be freely commemorating whatever or whoever I like.
You mean like the French use the cornflower or the St George’s Ribbon used by the Russians!!
Anyone watch Tommies The Boy soldiers last night on BBC? The 14/15 year olds who went to war. Very moving.
Didn’t see it but I can imagine. These young lads were led to believe they were heading off on an adventure. Poor souls had no idea of the horrors that awaited.
Ever read some of the letters they sent home from the trenches to their loved ones? Heartbreaking.
My dad has a binder full of my granddad letters as a P.O.W.
They are beautiful. On the right is granddad hand written original letter and on the left they typed version. There are also some beautiful and very interesting photos. It really is very touching n yet sad to see.
Why don’t they use them to make heroin?
It would save an awful lot of trouble importing it in which I believe is very difficult and dangerous.
I think you’re confusing you’re confusing your poppies there batman.
Went there yesterday . Great atmosphere great thing to see . 5 million people visited the tower to show there respects equal to the population of the Irish Republic .
Am I?
well that’s probably cos I’m completely bombed on the gear
Lol. Fair enough Gagsy.
They are not real poppies they have been made from pottery clay
All will be sold for £35 each.
Reports that they have already been sold at £25 a pop and proceeds are going to the British Legion charity.
I think WW1 and WW2 were justifiable wars but the british were the antagonist in many other unjust wars which the poppy also represents. Therefore the poppy should be shunned, especially if you are Irish.
Really what wars are they .
Thomas
So you think it wrong to remember the thousands of Irish dead as well as Canadian, Australian, New Zealand, American, African, Indian etc.
British Soldiers/Black & Tans also died killing irish men, women and children in their own homes. Yes it is wrong to commemorate those soldiers.
@thomas, the poppy is a memorial to the dead. The display at the Tower of London was designed to represent the 880,000 British soldiers who were killed in WW1. No part of any of the remembrance ceremonies represents war.
they’re fakes !
What’s happening to the poppies, so? I guess they could be worn on the lapel of a GIANT next November.
800,000 giants…
They were/ are being auctioned off, so the exhibition was cost neutral and any profit generated goes to the Poppy appeal fund
That’s neatly done. Still think there’s merit to my lapel/giants suggestion, though.
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