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Lamplight Of Peace Commemorates WWI's 'Unsung Heroes'

Lamplight of Peace CREDIT Portsmouth Historic Dockyard

'The Lamplight of Peace' is made using an original Bonnetted Clanny Lamp (Picture: Portsmouth Historic Dockyard).

A unique memorial has been commissioned to commemorate the work of tunnellers, as well as soldiers, sailors and merchant seamen that lost their lives in the Great War.

The artwork is known as 'The Lamplight of Peace' and it is made using an original Bonnetted Clanny Lamp - the same kind that was used by First World War tunnellers.

The lamp was lit at a special ceremony at the Grave of the Unknown Warrior at Westminster Abbey - marking 100 days before Remembrance Sunday on 11 November.

The event was part of 'Battle's Over – A Nation's Tribute' to mark the centenary of the end of the First World War.

Organiser and International Pageantmaster Bruno Peek said:

“The tunnellers are some of the great unsung heroes of the Great War.

“They fought their war underground, constantly surrounded by darkness and danger as they dug explosive-packed tunnels beneath enemy lines.

“Their extraordinary bravery has largely been forgotten but I hope that this event will serve to shed some light in the work they undertook in unimaginable conditions”.

Lamplight of Peace — The four sides of the wooden base on which the lamp stands display strands from barbed wire of the period, coal from the last British major mine, shards of trench post and soil from a First World War trench (Picture: Portsmouth Historic Dockyard).

Air Vice-Marshal David Murray, controller of the RAF Benevolent Fund, said:

“All three services and the Merchant Navy made huge sacrifices during WWI.

“As the Royal Air Force's leading welfare charity, we are aware of the importance of this poignant tribute, and the need to commemorate such a seminal period in the history of our nation.

“With hope comes light and inspiration, but we must never forget the darkness of the days that have passed.

“As we celebrate the centenary of the RAF and look towards our next 100th anniversary next year, we welcome the opportunity to remember and reflect.”

On completion of the lighting ceremony, the Lamp will be passed into the care of Warrant Officer Paul Jackson RN and the Chaplain of the Fleet, Rev Martin Gough QHC.

The Lamplight of Peace will be taken to Portsmouth and will arrive by sea at the Historic Dockyard at 11am on Sunday 5 August.

At the end of the 100 days, it will be positioned alongside the Grave of the Unknown Warrior, where a lone piper will then play Battle's O'er.

This tune was played at the end of every battle and has a haunting quality evoking loss and remembrance.