TWO silent soldier silhouettes are holding a standing vigil in two villages to mark 100 years since the end of the First World War.

The silhouettes, on Beachley Road in Sedbury and Coleford Road in Tutshill, have been sponsored by Tidenham Parish Council as part of a national campaign by the Royal British Legion to encourage the public to say ‘thank you’ to a generation who served, sacrificed, rebuilt and changed the nation.

Councillor Nick Evans, Tidenham Parish Councillor said: “It is particularly important in this 100th anniversary year of the Armistice that we remember the tremendous sacrifice that families right across the Wye Valley made during the Great War. These Silent Soldiers are a humble tribute to the men from across the Parish that served in that conflict and the Parish Council was pleased to be able to support the Royal British Legion’s campaign on behalf of the whole community.

“They will stay in place until the end of the year and will form a central part of the Parish’s remembrance service on Armistice Day.”

The monuments are near life-size and will feature as part of the Tidenham Parish remembrance service on Tutshill Recreation ground on the 11th November this year, led by Rev David Treharne.

This is one of a number of projects sponsored by Tidenham Parish Council this year to mark the centenary of the Armistice. Earlier this year, the Parish Council contributed to the ‘Tidenham Remembers’ project by Liz McBride of the Tidenham History Group to tell the story of the names of the men from the Parish who gave their lives in World War One.

Cllr Evans added: “It’s vital that we keep the stories that form our local history alive to maintain the relevance for future generations. Liz McBrides’ book for Tidenham History Group elegantly brings those stories to life.”

For further Information, contact Carol Hinton, clerk to Tidenham Parish Council on [email protected] or 01594 530779.