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| War poem written in poppies to launch British Legion appeal | War poem written in poppies to launch British Legion appeal |
| (17 days later) | |
| Lines from John McCrae’s renowned remembrance poem In Flanders Fields appear today written in poppies in locations from Dover’s white cliffs to Dunkirk to launch this year’s Poppy Appeal. | Lines from John McCrae’s renowned remembrance poem In Flanders Fields appear today written in poppies in locations from Dover’s white cliffs to Dunkirk to launch this year’s Poppy Appeal. |
| Individual letters of the poem, made up of clusters of poppies, give the impression of the lines growing up from the ground when viewed from a height. The Royal British Legion aims to instil a message of hope through the installations with this new perspective on the famous lines, it said. | Individual letters of the poem, made up of clusters of poppies, give the impression of the lines growing up from the ground when viewed from a height. The Royal British Legion aims to instil a message of hope through the installations with this new perspective on the famous lines, it said. |
| In Flanders Fields was written after poppies bloomed on the battlefields of the first world war among the death and destruction. McCrae, a Canadian physician and artillery commander with the Canadian Expeditionary Force who died in January 1918, described the poppy as a symbol of remembrance and, along with the lark, a life force continuing in the most difficult circumstances. | In Flanders Fields was written after poppies bloomed on the battlefields of the first world war among the death and destruction. McCrae, a Canadian physician and artillery commander with the Canadian Expeditionary Force who died in January 1918, described the poppy as a symbol of remembrance and, along with the lark, a life force continuing in the most difficult circumstances. |
| In this modern take, poem lines appear at the Royal Hospital Chelsea in London, on Dunkirk beach, on the white cliffs at Dover, at the National Memorial Arboretum in Staffordshire, in Cardiff Bay, at Salford Quays in Greater Manchester and outside the Sage venue in Gateshead. | In this modern take, poem lines appear at the Royal Hospital Chelsea in London, on Dunkirk beach, on the white cliffs at Dover, at the National Memorial Arboretum in Staffordshire, in Cardiff Bay, at Salford Quays in Greater Manchester and outside the Sage venue in Gateshead. |
| The Royal British Legion said it hoped the installations would bring the poem into modern-day consciousness, encouraging people to consider the meaning of the poppy as a symbol both of remembrance and hope, and wear it in support of the armed forces community, past and present. | The Royal British Legion said it hoped the installations would bring the poem into modern-day consciousness, encouraging people to consider the meaning of the poppy as a symbol both of remembrance and hope, and wear it in support of the armed forces community, past and present. |
| The Royal British Legion’s director of fundraising, Claire Rowcliffe, said: We’re encouraging people to dig deep for this year’s Poppy Appeal to help us raise £47m. The Legion’s work is entirely dependent on the public’s generous support – so please wear you poppy with pride.” | The Royal British Legion’s director of fundraising, Claire Rowcliffe, said: We’re encouraging people to dig deep for this year’s Poppy Appeal to help us raise £47m. The Legion’s work is entirely dependent on the public’s generous support – so please wear you poppy with pride.” |
| During the Poppy Appeal 2017, more than 40m poppies will be distributed by 150,000 collectors, who will accept the recently-expired £1 coins as part of the #PoppyPound campaign. | During the Poppy Appeal 2017, more than 40m poppies will be distributed by 150,000 collectors, who will accept the recently-expired £1 coins as part of the #PoppyPound campaign. |
| The locations and their lines are as follows: | The locations and their lines are as follows: |
| Royal Hospital Chelsea: In Flanders fields the poppies blow, Between the crosses, row on row | Royal Hospital Chelsea: In Flanders fields the poppies blow, Between the crosses, row on row |
| Sage Gateshead: That mark our place; and in the sky, The larks, still bravely singing, fly | Sage Gateshead: That mark our place; and in the sky, The larks, still bravely singing, fly |
| Dover white cliffs: Scarce heard amid the guns below, We are the Dead. Short days ago, We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow. | Dover white cliffs: Scarce heard amid the guns below, We are the Dead. Short days ago, We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow. |
| Dunkirk beach: Loved and were loved, and now we lie, In Flanders fields. | Dunkirk beach: Loved and were loved, and now we lie, In Flanders fields. |
| Cardiff Bay: Take up our quarrel with the foe: To you from failing hands we throw | Cardiff Bay: Take up our quarrel with the foe: To you from failing hands we throw |
| National Memorial Arboretum: The torch; be yours to hold it high. If ye break faith with us who die | National Memorial Arboretum: The torch; be yours to hold it high. If ye break faith with us who die |
| Salford Quays: We shall not sleep, though poppies grow, In Flanders fields. | Salford Quays: We shall not sleep, though poppies grow, In Flanders fields. |