There have been so many moving tributes to the fallen heroes of the Battle of the Somme in its 100th anniversary year. In Seaham yesterday I witnessed another. Hundreds of pebbles have been collected from the local beach, hand painted red, and arranged in a poppy around ‘Tommy’. This emotive metal sculpture was designed by Ray Lonsdale and unveiled in 2014.
‘Paint it Red’ was the idea of David McKenna, a former soldier who has served in Northern Ireland, Bosnia and Kosovo with the Royal Regiment of Fusiliers. Six years ago he founded a local community group, Seaham Remembers Them. Cadets and veterans alike were involved in this project, which took 2 months to complete.
Afterwards I strolled on the beach, crunching through the pebbles with their weird and wonderful shapes, and feeling very lucky to be alive.
This article in the local press covers the event. You might remember a Monday walk I did when Tommy first arrived in Seaham.
Seamless post Jo – from the opening photo – the flow of your words and the last stone with remember….
Beautiful
Thanks, hon. It’s an incredible tribute, Yvette. So many lads escaped the pits around Seaham, just to squander their lives on the battlefield.
😉
Thanks for this Jo. I have only just picked up on blog reading. The painted pebbles are wonderful, what a small, simple but expressive way to commemorate.
A stroke of genius, yet as you say, so simple, Ruth. I found it very moving.
Beautiful post.
Thank you 🙂 🙂
Touching post Jo – beautiful tribute xx
It’s a wonderful sculpture and it’s great that the people of Seaham appreciate it. Such sadness, hon!
Very interesting and lovely photos, Jo! Love the close-up shots. Love the red. I just noticed my pingback on this post comments, should I use another url instead of your latest post for the walk thingy?
Usually link to the last walk, which would have been Masmorra in the Algarve in this instance, BF. But I know you have difficulty with this sometimes. At the bottom of the Tommy post an arrow will take you back to Masmorra, but it’s already included for next Monday so no worries. Happy weekend! 🙂 🙂
Got it. I get so confusaled. I think I now can reach your page as I should. Now all I have to do is remember!!!!
Left hand doesn’t know what the right’s doing sometimes, hon! Just link where you like. I’ll always be happy to find you there 🙂
That’s so lovely. What a fitting tribute
I love the use of local pebbles, Ting. I only wish I’d been involved. 🙂
Absolutely beautiful and moving, Jo xxxx
You want to put your arms around him, don’t you?
Absolutely xxxx
Very moving tribute. I saw the thousands of crocheted poppies at the Chelsea flower show this spring. I was literally speechless at the sight. My neighbour’s son died in Iraq -aged only 20. We also remember him. So young. A terrible waste of life.
We don’t seem to have learnt a single lesson in these 100 years, Karen. Only pain!
Good posts, beautiful blog.
Congratulations.
Welcome to see my creations:
http://paintdigi.wordpress.com
Thank you very much 🙂 It’s often hard to find time to visit everyone but I do try.
you’r welcome friend
Jo, this is such a moving powerful tribute – thank you so much for sharing.
A heartbreaker, isn’t it?
Very moving. I love it. In Finland, we have many war memorials, but this is awesome.
A simple idea but so effective, I think. And very sad.
A lovely tribute. Lest we forget.
We never can, Draco. Too many lives were wasted.
tutta la stanchezza della guerra pesa sulle spalle di Tommy a rappresentare l’orrore di tutte le battaglie
l’omaggio in rosso rappresenta univocamente il sangue e la vita
bella ispirazione!
🙂
100 years, Annalisa, and a horror we can never forget. This says it simply but beautifully. Ciao, bella 🙂
he he grazie mille
ciao bella!
This is such a moving depiction, Jo. I’m very impressed with Tommy, but the addition of the painted pebbles brings him to life. I’ve never seen anything quite like it. Very, very special!
A brilliantly simple idea, isn’t it, Debbie, but very effective. 🙂
Tommy is such a wonderful depiction of the fatigue and overwhelmingness of war, and maybe even its boredom. Your first photo shows him in all his detail. I love the way you juxtapose the painted pebbles with the real ones, carrying the poppy-thoughts across to them. A lovely way to revitalise thoughts evoked by the statue.
I wished I had known about the project and been involved in the painting, Meg. It reminded me of how little I do to help our community. I need to use my time better. How are you coping with the tambourine players this week? 🙂 🙂
But how much you do for the community in cyberspace! I always learn about community things too late – or else I’m here. Coping well, and feeling triumphant every time we all get to or fro. They’re beginning to miss J. This afternoon we paint letters for him. Hugs from a rainy morning.
Have you heard from him? How’s he doing? It won’t be long before they’ve got Christmasy stuff to do. Paper chains, cut out angels and all that 🙂 🙂 Bright day/lazy woman hugs!
A few long phone calls. He’s glad to be there … but missing here. A few health issues he wasn’t expect that make me a bit anxious.
They’ll have a great medical service in Oz, Meg, and hopefully they’ll send him back good as new. You’re in my thoughts, hon. Try not to worry. Oh, those easy peasy words 😦
Thank you, my dear. Results of tests next Wednesday. Doctor was concerned enough to order tests but J said he didn’t seem unduly perturbed.
Sad, but I am glad that they are not forgotten. Thanks Jo.
I don’t see how they can be forgotten, Helen. It was such a cruel waste of life.
Marvellous idea. Simple but poignant.
It speaks volumes, doesn’t it, Anabel?
What I find so touching about this is, is the fact that so many people took the time and care to paint a pebble to add to the ‘sculpture’.
Susan A Eames at
Travel, Fiction and Photos
That’s exactly right. The community have worked hard to try to revive this former colliery town. They would have lost many youngsters 100 years ago.
What a very clever idea and also a lovely way to remember those who gave their lives in the cause of freedom. 😉
Such a simple idea and yet so very effective. The sculpture makes me want to weep.
Grandfather survived the Somme, grand uncle did not. Father survived the Japanese in Burma, uncle turvived torpedo in North Atlantic, quite amazing what out near relatives survived and appeared unchanged. Worth remembering when you see plastic politicians pretending to remember.
This north eastern mining town had its share of losses, Charles. Young lads wanting to escape the pits for a bit of adventure. A tragedy!
Overwhelmingly sad, but what a way to remember ~
They were terrible times, Mary. 100 years on the memories still horrify.
How beautiful and sad – but very memorable.
I love the sculpture, Leya. His expression says it all.
That popping color of red will brand a memory in one’s mind forever! Stunning and memorable…now i want to start painting red rocks!!!
Let me join you! That’s what I thought, Lisa 🙂 🙂
Sounds and looks like a very movíng tribute….
Love the statue!
It’s beautiful, Anna, isn’t it, but so sad!
I love the poppy arrangement. Beautiful tribune.
It’s a brilliant idea, isn’t it? But unbelievably sad.
Such a powerful tribute. I have goosebumps having read your post and seeing the photos Jo.
It was a very poor area, Sue, and many of the lads from the pits would have gone to war with a sense of escape and adventure. It’s tragic really.
Oh dear how sad.
His last adventure. The sculpture is amazing with red pebbles at his feet. Great post!
He is so very expressive of the world and all it’s woes, Paula. 😦
As much as I’d love to live in Croatia, still Sue here in Canada. 🙂
Paula left a comment here and I was trying to reply, Sue. I seem to have made her vanish! Don’t tell! 😦
Beautiful idea and beautifully executed! I love pebbles. 🙂
So simple and yet so very effective. 🙂
What a fantastic idea for a moving tribute!
Such a sad occasion, Pit. Even 100 years on the memories don’t fade.
Such a beautiful tribute Jo. Here in Canada, we proudly wear red poppies in remembrance of the men & women who have served. Often when people attend Remembrance Day services, they leave their poppies gathered at the cenotaph where the services are held. It is a very touching vision.
100 years is a long time, Lynn, but it’s just as tragic now as it was then.
What a beautiful tribute!
I thought so too, Joy. Simple but effective.
Jo, this is such a moving tribute. Thanks for showing it to us. It reassures me that people still remember the soldiers of WWI.
I don’t think it’s something that can ever be forgotten, Noelle. Such a wicked waste of young lives.
a beautiful tribute, Jo 🙂
And so very sad, LolaWi.
lovely tribute- and the sculpture is fabulous- so touching a post- thanks!
I love the sculpture, Kathe. Despair and weariness etched in every line.
Such a moving tribute.
Simple but very effective, isn’t it, Ana? Thanks for sharing. 🙂
Beautiful statues and what a lovely tribute with the red painted pebbles.
It’s a brilliant idea, Sami. But so very sad!
What a beautiful remembrance, Jo. I love this idea of the red pebbles. Lovely. 🙂
So simple, Cathy, but the simplest ideas often escape us, don’t they?
The poignant simplicity of this tribute is so moving…And Tommy bows his head with the burden of all the death. If only we’d learned from it. A great post and wonderful photos – thank you.
There don’t seem to be any answers, do there? 100 years and where are we? Just another pebble on the beach. Thanks so much for your comment.
It has all been said above. Thanks for bringing this to our notice.
There are only so many tears, Maris, but we keep adding to them down the years, don’t we?
This is so moving Jo, it brings a lump to my throat. I don’t know what it is about the Battle of the Somme but every time I read or see something about it I want to cry. And I am not a sentimentalist, nor do I cry easily, so why does this particular event move me so?
Tommy is a wonderful sculpture and to see this tribute is wonderful. Thank you for showing it to us through your excellent images.
I didn’t know about this till I arrived yesterday, Jude. I’d been focused on them tipping poppies from the roof of Durham Cathedral but I couldn’t make it for that. This is so personal, isn’t it? I think the scale and the circumstances of the loss just fill you with dread whenever you think about it. Hugs, darlin!
I’m glad you found this. Much more moving than tipping poppies.
The sculpture is desperately sad as it is, with the poppies, it’s beautiful but heart-breaking, thanks love for sharing Gx
Thinking about what caused it to be there is always a stomach churner, Gilly. The despair is potent.
What a beautiful tribute. Thanks so much for sharing this, Jo. xo
He definitely tugs at the heart strings, Jill.
I wonder what would happen if I make a sculpture or art of myself and just randomly display it in public? 🙂
Impressive tribute. The way people pay tribute to people they honor is a beautiful thing. And the variety-colored pebbled beach is whoa-some! Very nice pictures, Jo.
Sculpture is everywhere, much of it very beautiful, Rommel. Give it a go. I promise not to chuck eggs at it 🙂 Thanks for your company!
What a clever idea and a beautiful way to commemorate this anniversary.
I wanted to see the event at Durham, where they tipped paper poppies from the cathedral, Carole, but I couldn’t make it. This made a great substitute. 🙂
Very moving. Tragically, there’s probably a correlation between the number of pebbles on the beach and the number of fallen soldiers during the First World War.
And it keeps being added to in present times, Denzil. Will it never end, despite what we know?
This goes right to the heart, Jo. ❤
Creativity creating art in a very moving way. One of the finest tributes I have ever seen.Thanks for the link, I'll pass it on.
Have a wonderful day! x
Joyful for me to have you here, Dina. 🙂 The sculpture is one of the best things to happen to Seaham in recent times. Shame it has to have such a very sad source.
What a fantastic tribute – has a very personal feeling
It really does, Debs! There are always people on this rough old beach, collecting pebbles and sea glass. This was such a worthwhile cause.
What an incredible tribute. Moving and so beautiful.
Tommy always attracts a crowd, Miriam, but he is extra poignant in his ‘finery’.
I’m sure he is Jo.