We took the opportunity to go and see the ceramic poppies on display in the moat of the Tower of London.
I've come across some varied reports regarding the significance of the numbers and dates, but my understanding is as follows:
- 888,246 poppies, one for each Commonwealth forces death caused by the war, including those who died from wounds in the years following Armistice Day
- 5th August, the memorial opens on the same date as Britain's first day of involvement in World War II
- 11th of November, the memorial closes on Armistice/Remembrance Day
The piece is by Paul Cummins and titled 'Blood Swept Lands, Seas of Red'.