Chapel-en-le-Frith remembers war heroes with '˜Silent Soldiers' campaign

Sally Tideswell, the secretary and Poppy Appeal organiser for the Chapel en le Frith branch of the RBL pictured with Paul Carrington, the owner of Chapel DIY, who were the first business in Chapel to support the silent soldier silhouette scheme.

The poignant display - organised by the Royal British Legion - is believed to be the biggest of its kind in the country and has involved residents and business in the town.

Sally Tideswell, of the Chapel branch of the Legion,said: “I’m gobsmacked how well they have taken off and it’s so nice to see them all around the town.

“It’s very moving in fact to see them standing in their fields, waiting.”

The silent soldier silhouette at Chapel DIY.

The near- life sized silhouettes have been made as part of the Poppy Appeal and represents the demobilisation of soldiers at the end of the First World War.

In 1918, men would return to England and be given a train ticket to their train station before walking home to be reunited with their families. Sally said: “One of the first places to sign up was Chapel DIY which used to be where the old train station was and where the brave men started their journey to war and where the lucky ones came home to.

“We’ve already lost the World War One veterans and we are now losing the World War Two vets so it is important we keep remembering their sacrifice for the younger generations.”