A war-weary Tommy sits thoughtfully, head bowed, rifle in hand, as he reflects upon the sheer horror of World War One during the first minute after peace was declared in 1918.
Here is his Poem...
'Now adrift in the wake of this glorious slaughter
He'd seen many a soul cleansed in filthy water.
Seen godless men reach out for the Bible
As lead tore the flesh from friend and rival
Soon home to the joy and celebration of kin
Drunken slaps on the back at a favourite inn
But heavy in his pocket lies a small piece of card
And the note written on it will break a mother's heart'
This imposing metal sculpture, entitled 1101, owing to the fact the armistice went into effect at 11am on November 11, 1918, stands 9ft 5ins tall and weighs 1.2 tonnes.
Built out of special corteen steel, it has been installed on Seaham seafront in Country Durham to mark the centenary of the start of the Great War.
Created by local artist Ray Lonsdale, the sculpture is also intended to represent Post Traumatic Stress Disorder which many of the returning soldiers endured.
On the back of the statue is the above poem penned by the artist Ray Lonsdale.
