COMMEMORATE, educate and heal, that's the thinking behind the growing campaign to instal six foot metal silhouettes of the inspirational First World War Tommy figure around the country. It's already been adopted by several local councils who are forking out £750 each for the classic lone figures of a soldier. Romanby parish council has started a crowdfunding campaign to raise the money, Northallerton is using council tax cash, either way there is no doubt the funds are going to good cause welfare charities including Help for Heroes, Walking with the Wounded and the war graves foundation.

The aim of the campaign by the Remembrance charity is to make unforgettable the centenary of the end of the first World War. One slogan is no longer a name on a wall. while that could be seen as a bit of an insult to the many who have dedicated time and effort to preserving the many memorials and cenotaphs around the country, you can see what they mean.

For communities who lost so many of their young men who never got to live a life, and the many relatives and friends left behind it's surely going to be a boost to see these figures dotted around parks, town halls and buildings, nudging the brain to think of them as we go about our daily business.

The Tommies and the commemorative packaging they come in are being made by ex-service veterans employed by the Royal Birtish Legion Industries. They say the important thing is to educate all generations about why the Tommies made the ultimate sacrifice, and raise very substantial funds to help heal those suffering from the hidden wounds of war. It''s not the only commemoration being planned but it's definitely a high profile one which is capturing the imagination.