The Threads of Remembrance project has grown beyond expectation with more than 20,000 handmade poppies from the community – far surpassing the original goal of 11,000.
Jane and Stella Barnes continued their involvement by responding to the call out on social media for volunteers to assist with fixing the poppies to the backing netting ahead of its installation on HMS Cavalier
The poppies form a striking installation at the National Destroyer Memorial at The Historic Dockyard Chatham. The tribute was unveiled on 15 September and Jane and Stella were invited to attend and be part of the commemorative photograph. There was media coverage, and they were interviewed by both Meridian and KMTV relaying why they had taken part. This tribute will be in place in the lead up to Salute to the ‘40s event and will remain on display until Armistice Day.
Each poppy represents one of the 11,000 men who lost their lives aboard the 142 Royal Navy destroyers sunk during the Second World War. At the heart of the memorial stands HMS CAVALIER, the last surviving Royal Navy destroyer of the Second World War.
Lynnette Crisp, Director of Public Engagement, Chatham Historic Dockyard Trust, said: “Threads of Remembrance has grown far beyond anything we imagined, and we are deeply grateful to everyone who has contributed. Every handmade poppy carries a message of remembrance, love and respect. We are also grateful to the volunteers who devoted hundreds of hours to building the installation. Attaching thousands of poppies has been no small task and their commitment has been incredible.”