The Royal British Legion (RBL) in North Wales has announced it will be supporting the Silent Solider campaign in honour of British troops who fought and died in the First World War 100 years ago.
Near life-size silhouettes of a First World War ‘Tommy’ will be fixed on buildings, gardens, fields, and roundabouts across the region, in remembrance of those in the armed forces who came home ‘silently’ from the war, as well as those who never made it home.
Businesses and local authorities in North Wales are being invited to support the campaign by sponsoring and displaying one or more silhouettes from now until late 2018, when the nation will commemorate the armistice and the end of the war.
Andy Green, Community Fundraiser for RBL North Wales, said: “The idea was the brainchild of our counterpart in Surrey, who have had amazing success marketing these across their county”.
“The Silent Soldier silhouettes have at their base the words 1914-1918 Lest We Forget but any business or similar undertaking can buy and sponsor a silhouette and have its company name incorporated in the base.”
Peter Wakeham of RBL Surrey, who came up with the idea, said: “The theme of this idea is ‘coming home’. Silent Soldiers will appear just as the soldiers did in 1918 when they were coming home. This is to commemorate that and show respect to them. We want people to see the soldiers, take an interest, and want to find out more about the War & we are hoping it will be adopted across the country.”
The Royal British Legion is marking the centenary of the First World War with a variety of commemorations and projects from 2014-2018 aimed at remembrance and education.
If anyone would like to get involved with sponsoring a Silent Soldier please contact Andy Green on agreen@britishlegion.org.uk for more information.
