Chatham Historic Dockyard Trust and Nucleus Arts, with support from Medway Council, are proud to announce that the Threads of Remembrance project has grown beyond expectation with more than 20,000 handmade poppies from the community – far surpassing the original goal of 11,000.

The poppies form a striking installation at the National Destroyer Memorial at The Historic Dockyard Chatham. The tribute has been unveiled in the lead up to Salute to the ‘40s and will remain on display until Armistice Day.

Each poppy represents one of the 11,000 men who lost their lives aboard the 142 Royal Navy destroyers sunk during the Second World War. At the heart of the memorial stands HMS CAVALIER, the last surviving Royal Navy destroyer of the Second World War.

Lynnette Crisp, Director of Public Engagement, Chatham Historic Dockyard Trust, said: “Threads of Remembrance has grown far beyond anything we imagined, and we are deeply grateful to everyone who has contributed. Every handmade poppy carries a message of remembrance, love and respect. We are also grateful to the volunteers who devoted hundreds of hours to building the installation. Attaching thousands of poppies has been no small task and their commitment has been incredible. 

 Thanks to our research volunteers we have sourced the 11,000 names of those who were lost. Members of the public are invited to add these names to a roll of honour beside the installation. We hope visitors will pause at the poppies, choose a name, and take a quiet moment to reflect on the life it represents.”

David Stokes, Chief Executive, Halpern Charitable Foundation, said: “It has been a privilege to work alongside Chatham Historic Dockyard Trust and Medway Council to make this vision a reality. Partnerships like this show what’s possible when heritage and creativity come together. Threads of Remembrance also proves that art can do more than decorate, it can unite, heal, and give us a powerful way to remember and get involved.

 Certainly, we were absolutely blown away by the response to the call to the public. What began as a call-out for 11,000 poppies has grown into more than 20,000, sent in from every corner of the UK. When visitors see this sea of handcrafted poppies, they will not only see a tribute to the lives lost but also feel the hands and hearts of thousands of people who took the time to create them.”

Vince Maple, Leader, Medway Council said: “Earlier this year saw Medway mark VE Day 80 – with beacons lighting the sky, military parades, a moving service at The Royal Engineers Museum, street parties, the Medway People’s Peace Poem and more. This project formed part of those celebrations, and what a fantastic sight it is to see one of our iconic Medway landmarks covered in poppies made by the community. It is a brilliant example of the One Medway approach too, with the council, Dockyard, Nucleus Arts and residents coming together to bring this fantastic idea to life.”

The Threads of Remembrance installation stands as a symbol of shared remembrance during the 80th anniversary year of the end of the Second World War.

ENDS