Should councils display WWI Tommy silhouettes?

SHAME on the councils that have failed to display the Tommy silhouettes (Mail). Former head of the Army Lord Dannatt wrote to 433 local authority leaders asking them to support the charity campaign. However, only around 160 have made a £750 donation to buy one of the 6 ft aluminium and Perspex Tommy silhouettes with a red poppy on their chest (left). One hundred years after the end of World War I, it is fitting to remember our fighting men and acknowledge their bravery. I only wish there were ones of a sailor and an airman. My grandfather was killed in the naval Battle of Jutland and I feel sailors are not always properly commemorated. One hundred years on, let us salute all our World War I heroes.

Name and address supplied.

LORD DANNATT should not hector councils to pay for a Tommy silhouette. had I received one of his round robin letters, I would have been tempted to ignore it. Local councils must receive many unsolicited letters asking for assistance and I doubt Lord Dannatt’s would have been the most pressing. People give freely to many charities without pressure from retired generals. Councils have no duty, moral or legal, to ‘think back to the sacrifices the country made’. Simply because a clever advertising campaign to raise money has not garnered sufficient funds is no reason to coerce anyone into giving. There are many other initiatives being supported to commemorate the Armistice.

DES MORGAN, Swindon, Wilts.