Timed to mark the centenary of the first day of Britain’s participation in the First World War, this breathtaking memorial provided a moving tribute in commemoration of British and Commonwealth soldiers killed in the 1914-18 war.

Paul Cummins and Tom Piper designed and directed a magnificent poppy installation to spread around the Tower of London in the dry moat. Paul Cummins found inspiration for the title of the installation in the first line of the Will of a Derbyshire man who signed up at the war’s beginning, witnessed carnage and misery, and died in Flanders.

The installation commenced on August 5th, 2014, when volunteers started to plant ceramic poppies each day in the dry moat until 888,246 were placed, one for each British and Commonwealth fatality. The installation was completed by Armistice Day on 11th November, 2014.

“The Weeping Window” and “The Wave” were two major features of Blood Swept Lands and Seas of Red. After the installation was dismantled, these features went on tour to venues across the United Kingdom until the end of the Centenary in 2018. Ultimately, they will join other parts of the installation on permanent display in the Imperial War Museums in London and Manchester.

The installation work was commissioned by Historic Royal Palaces, an independent charity, and the majority of the ceramic poppies were sold to the public to benefit military charities.

(My thanks to www.britishlegion.org.uk and poppies.hrp.org.uk for information.)