Dorothy saluted on the beach
CROWDS turned out at Swansea beach to see a portrait of Dorothy Watson who was killed in an explosion during the First World War being etched into the sand.
Silhouettes of Tommies first started to emerge on the shore before lunchtime as work got under way on the image of the 19-year-old munitions worker who died in a blast at the National Explosives Factory in Pembrey during July 1917.
A volunteer team of girls, who were aged similarly to Dorothy, lent their support to sand artist and sculptor Amie Marsden for the project, which was taken on by the film-maker Danny Boyle.
Oscar-winner Danny’s commission, entitled Pages of the Sea marked the centenary of Armistice Day - with four Welsh beaches, Swansea, Freshwater West in Pembrokeshire, Colwyn Bay and Ynyslas in Ceredigion chosen for special sand sculpture celebrations. People were invited to go and look at the work being carried out on the sands near Swansea’s Civic Centre to remember the lives of those lost in the conflict and pay their respects on Remembrance Sunday.
Amie said: “They are not just soldiers on the sand, there are nurses and munitionettes as Dorothy Watson is one,” she said. “She worked in a munitions factory and she died in an explosion at 19 years old. All our volunteers are from the same age group for the added poignancy as they are 18, 19 and 20.”
Amie said: “It really is a true honour. we all have to be grateful for everyone who gave up their lives.”