A 125-strong army of silhouette soldiers was placed on Hampton Court Palace’s grounds in advance of Armistice Day.
The 6ft soldiers at Hampton Court, West London, were made from scrap metal collected by Dan Barton in advance of this year’s Poppy Appeal.
Hampton Court’s East Front Gardens has 75 giant poppy wreaths. 100 Tommies and 25 Indian Soldiers were also placed to represent the Empire’s forces.
The display is part of the “Standing with Giants” project. It depicts almost 1800 Indian soldiers that sailed to Britain in 1919 for the World War I Peace Parade in London. They were then encamped on Hampton Court’s grounds for the duration.
They will be displayed on the palace grounds from November 3-28.
The outdoor remembrance display features 25 new near-life-sized silhouettes, 100 British soldiers and Indian soldiers from World War I.
The soldiers are displayed in Hampton Court Palace, south west London.
To represent the impact of foreign troops on the war, 25 Indian soldiers were also placed on the ground alongside 100 British soldiers.
The display was placed on the grounds at Hampton Court Palace in west London
Picture of Indian soldiers arriving at Hampton Court Palace, where they camped during 1919’s victory parade
Field Marshal the Earl Cavan inspects the officers and men from the Indian contingent as they parade in full Coronation uniforms at their Hampton Court quarters, near London.
In 2019, 101 silhouettes of soldiers were placed on a hillside next to the M40 in Stokenchuch (Bucks). Around 10,000 people stopped at the site and £25,000 was raised, Mr Barton added
To raise money, the silhouettes were placed around the gardens.
The artist, who works in restoration of buildings, placed 200 silhouettes at Blenheim palace in Oxforshire last summer. It attracted 25,000 visitors in two weeks and raised £40,000 for the Poppy Appeal
Mr Barton has raised more than £65,000 for the Royal British Legion by displaying the cutouts over the last two years.
He made a handful of the soldiers in 2018 to mark 100 years since the end of World War One – raising a total of £1,200 after displaying them in his Oxfordshire village.
He stated to the Sun that he was passionately committed to remembering those poor souls, who fought for our freedom. Every one of our freedoms was purchased at the cost of someone who gave their life for us. This is who we are honoring.
In 2019, 101 silhouettes of soldiers were placed on a hillside next to the M40 in Stokenchuch (Bucks). Around 10,000 people stopped at the site and £25,000 was raised, Mr Barton added.
The artist, who works as a restoration contractor, placed 200 silhouettes at Blenheim palace in Oxforshire last summer. It attracted 25,000 visitors in two weeks and raised £40,000 for the Poppy Appeal.
Hampton Court Palace host poses with the outdoor remembrance display
Hampton Court’s East Front Gardens has 75 giant poppy wreaths. 100 Tommies and 25 Indian Soldiers were also placed to represent the Empire’s forces.
Mr Barton collected scrap hoardings and created the silhouettes.
The display was created as part the ‘Standing with Giants’ project. It represents almost 1800 Indian soldiers who came to Britain in 1919 to participate in the World War I peace parade in London. They stayed on the Hampton Court grounds for the duration of their stay.
In a solemn tribute to those who have died in war, the silhouettes are placed along the manicured lawn.
The silhouettes are surrounded with moving extracts from letters that soldiers on the frontline wrote to their families.
One Indian fighter wrote that it was very difficult to withstand the bombs, Father. It will be hard for anyone to survive the bombings and come back safe from the war.
The silhouettes are surrounded by moving excerpts from letters sent home by soldiers on front line.
An Indian fighter wrote that it was very difficult to withstand the bombs, Father. It will be difficult to survive and return safe and sound from war.
Briton wrote in his final letter to his wife: ‘We are going way over the top today and only God knows who will come out alive.
‘I go with your dear face to Him the last sight on Earth I shall have and your name upon me, you the most beautiful of women.
“You will take care of my darling bairns and tell them about the death of their daddy.”
Mr Barton works from a shed made of pallets covered in tarpaulin. He hopes that he can take thousands more silhouettes for 20 mobile exhibitions throughout the UK.