'˜Stunning' Great War statue arrives in Glasgow's George Square

The 'Every Man Remembered' sculpture will be on display on George Square until Sunday 13th November. Picture: John Devlin.

Entitled ‘Every Man Remembered’, the statue was unveiled on George Square this morning by Glasgow’s Lord Provost, Sadie Docherty, as part of this year’s Scottish Poppy Appeal.

The sculpture, which stands approximately 23 feet high, has previously stood on Trafalgar Square in London and is visiting Scotland for the first time.

The world-renowned piece of art is based on the ‘Unknown Soldier’ and stands on a block of limestone from the Somme area of France. The sculpture is encased in a glass box among thousands of poppies that float in the air.

Designed by artist Mark Humphrey, the statue is part of a 4-year campaign aimed at honouring every one of the 1,117,077 Commonwealth Servicemen and women who lost their lives in the First World War. Visitors to the statue will be directed to the Every Man Remembered website, which aims to see each and every one of these men and women individually commemorated throughout the First World War centenary years.

Mark Bibbey, Chief Executive at Poppyscotland, said:

“We’re honoured to unveil the Every Man Remembered statue for the very first time in Scotland as part of the Scottish Poppy Appeal 2016. This stunning piece of art provides a focal point for members of the public to pay tribute to our servicemen and women, both past and present.

“The poppy continues to be a symbol of remembrance for those who have fallen, but it also serves as a reminder of the living who still need our support. In fact, one in 8 veterans have a fundamental unmet need for support, and more than half suffer from a long-term illness or disability. That’s why we need the Scottish public to make their donation and wear their poppies with pride, so that we can be there for our ex-servicemen and women when they call for backup.”

Glasgow’s Lord Provost Sadie Docherty, said:

“The Every Man Remembered statue is a great way to raise awareness of those who gave their lives in the Great War as we continue to commemorate the conflict’s centenary. I’m proud Glasgow had the opportunity to lead the United Kingdom’s First World War centenary commemorations in August 2014 and that we continue to remember the sacrifices of those who fell to defend our freedoms at events like this.”

This is the first time the Every Man Remembered statue has been unveiled in Scotland, following appearances in London’s Trafalgar Square and Cardiff in 2014 and 2015 respectively. It will be on display in George Square, Glasgow, throughout the Scottish Poppy Appeal until Sunday 13th of November.