Giant Poppy of Honour unveiled in Wincanton

October 19, 2018

By Mr White

The Poppy of Honour is fully funded by private sponsorship and features the names of the 1,115,471 servicemen and women who died in the First World War - all hand-written on individual poppies. Including the Names of 800 women killed in WW1 and the 306 soldiers who were shot at dawn, and have been granted a Royal pardon.

*The Poppy will tour the county before being put on show in London and Belgium next year. Photo Credit: Poppy of Honour*

The Poppy of Honour was the brainchild of Terry Williams of Henstridge, but upon realising that the project was too much for one man he appealed for volunteers, and in 2014 the Poppy of Honour 2018 group was born.

Support grew to over a quarter of a million people from dozens of countries to help and businesses working together to create an 8-foot steel and glass poppy-shaped sculpture, the first memorial of its kind, dedicated to every one of the British and Commonwealth service men and women, killed or declared missing in action in World War 1.

Terry Williams, from Henstridge, who said:

“This is the first national memorial holding the collective names of every person killed or missing in action in WW1. The response from the public, business and groups has surpassed our hopes and ensured that every single husband, wife, brother, sister, son and daughter who gave their lives will be remembered in this centenary year and for years to come. Although they are gone, they will never be forgotten.”

The Poppy of Honour is on display in Wincanton, Somerset and will tour the county before going to London and Belgium next year.

When the Poppy eventually returns once more to Wincanton, it’s hoped that a permanent memorial garden will be created for it so that everyone can visit it for years to come.

Here are the dates of the Poppy of Honour's tour of Somerset in November 2018: