In the sanctuary or Stowe's Grecian Valley,the lifesize silhouettes of 1475 servicemen from three military forces stand silently in the wildflower meadow,
This was designed by community artist,Dan Barton and created by volunteers of the registered charity,Standing With Giants,
Created to commemorate the 80th anniversary of D-Day,the artwork was installed in April 2024 at the British Normandy Memorial,in Ver-sur-Mer.The figures overlook Gold Beach where 1475 British servicemen died in action on 6th June 1944.The art installation spent summer 2024 in Normandy,where it was visited by Heads of State from all over the world including His Majesty The King,before making it's way to Stowe Gardens-the UK's official host of the memorial artwork.
The figures arrived at Stowe on 4 articulated lorries carring 18 specially designed transportation frames,or stillages.The sides of the stillages are adorned with letters from the fallen servicemen of the Normandy Campaign,shining a light on the personal stories behind the names.Resembling military coffins,the stillages are also decorated with 22,442 poppies knitted by members of Women's Institutes from across the UK-representing the total number of fallen service personnel on D-Day and the Battle of Normandy combined.
Narrative taken from the book "Giants In The Valley",National Trust.
Ian