In a previous blog post we shared our plans to create a display of poppies in our reception area to mark the centenary of the end of the First World War. We appealed to staff, volunteers, researchers, friends and relatives to contribute handmade poppies to be part of this display.
We received an overwhelming response, with over 600 poppies becoming part of this amazing display, commemorating those who fought and fell in the First World War. It represents a very personal memorial to all those who lost their lives in the First World War.
We wanted to say thank you very much indeed to everyone who contributed poppies, and give particular thanks to Record Office colleagues Clare and Sarah who are the architects of this moving display.
The poppies, along with a small exhibition of original documents, will remain in the Record Office reception until Monday 19th November. Everyone is welcome to come in and take a look.
‘Then as though nature had remembered suddenly how all of this land had been bought, came laden with deep red poppies, massed them together and let them dribble out into the green like the blood that had been so freely spilt here.’
Ralph Ellis, 7th Battalion Royal Sussex Regiment, Summer 1916 (Add Mss 25006)
Uncover more First World War stories on the Great War West Sussex website and hear about the war in soldiers’ own words on the Military Voices website.
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