Wyre Council remembers fallen of World War I

Pictured (from left to right) Garry Payne, Chief Executive of Wyre Council, Armed Forces Champions for Wyre Council, Councillor Terry Rogers and Councillor Andrea Kay and Councillor David Henderson, Leader of Wyre Council.

As part of their homecoming commemorations, Wyre Council has installed a ‘Tommy’ silhouette in its reception area at the Civic Centre as a poignant tribute to all who lost their lives in World War I.

The commemorative Tommy figure is part of a nationwide installation for fallen entitled ‘There But Not There’.

‘There But Not There’ is a charity project which aims to place representative figures across the country in memory of those who died, in the communities they left behind. The campaign hopes to educate all generations about why the fallen made the ultimate sacrifice, as well as raise funds to help heal those suffering from the hidden wounds of war. These silhouettes will represent Tommies being back within their communities for Remembrance 2018, the centenary of the end of the First World War.

Each Tommy is made by the Royal British Legion Industries (RBLI) and by ex-service Veterans employed by RBLI.

Councillor David Henderson, Leader of Wyre Council comments ‘As we approach the centenary of the end of the First World War, this campaign has provided us with a visual way to remember those who lost their lives in World War I. It allows us to remember and honour the past and gives us chance to reflect on what those living with the scars of conflict today are faced with.’

The project aims to commemorate, educate and heal. It will commemorate those who died in the First World War through the installation of silhouettes, to educate all generations, particularly today’s younger generation, born nearly 100 years after the outbreak of World War I, to understand what led to the deaths of 888,246 British and Commonwealth service personnel, and to heal today’s veterans who are suffering from the mental and physical wounds of their service by raising funds through sales of the Tommies.

Funds raised from the sale of the Tommies will contribute directly to the work carried out by beneficiary charities including The Royal Foundation, Walking with the Wounded, Combat Stress, Help for Heroes, Project Equinox: Housing Veterans and Medical Students and the Commonwealth War Graves Foundation.

Wyre Council is also hosting a range of events leading up to Armistice Day, culminating in a final homecoming parade in Fleetwood on Monday 12 November.

To find out more visit www.wyre.gov.uk/homecoming