# Poppies made from shell casings commemorate 100th anniversary of Somme battle

- Link: https://fundraising.co.uk/2016/07/01/poppies-made-shell-casings-commemorate-100th-anniversary-somme-battle/
- Published: 2016-07-01T08:00:15+01:00
- Author: Melanie May

**The [Royal British Legion](http://www.britishlegion.org.uk/‎) has produced a limited
edition gold poppy pin to mark today’s (1^(st) July) 100^(th) anniversary of the
start of the Battle of the Somme, and raise funds for the charity.**

Created by [TMB Art Metal](http://www.tmbartmetal.com/), the poppies have been made
from brass taken from British shell fuses fired during the Battle of the Somme and
collected from the historic front line. The red enamel in the centre of each poppy
has been made from a small amount of finely ground earth that was collected from
Gommecourt, Hebuterne, Serre, Beaumont Hamel, Thiepval, Ovillers, La Boisselle, 
Fricourt and Mametz, and red enamel mixed together to create the colour red.

19,240 pins have so far been produced as a tribute to the 19,240 lives lost on 1
^(st) July 1916. These have already sold out, raising thousands for the charity,
with more being made. Each pin comes with a certificate featuring details of the
individual soldier it commemorates, and costs £39.99 from the charity’s Poppy Shop.
All proceeds go to support the charity’s work in providing care and support to all
members of the British Armed Forces and their families.

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—

My [#Somme100](https://web.archive.org/web/20160706013706/https://twitter.com/hashtag/Somme100?src=hash)
poppy pin.I will remember Private W Wright and hope someone has Private H Gledhill
in their thoughts [pic.twitter.com/9igqTCLtzr](https://web.archive.org/web/20160706013706/https://t.co/9igqTCLtzr)

— Eve Steward (@evemsteward) [June 30, 2016](https://twitter.com/evemsteward/status/748582009702912000)
—
Christopher Bennett, founder of TMB Art Metal, said:

> “It is truly humbling to hold a piece of profound history in the form of a shell
> fuse found on the Somme. This poppy honours the fallen of our World Wars and allows
> you to wear and carry a piece of history with you at all times.”

 * **[Tower of London moat poppies to raise funds for service charities](https://fundraising.co.uk/2014/05/08/tower-london-moat-poppies-raise-funds-service-charities/)(
   8 May 2014)
 * **[The Poppy Story (early years)](https://fundraising.co.uk/2012/10/29/poppy-story-early-years/)(
   29 October 2012)**
 * **[Ghostly WW1 figures art campaigns aims to raise £15m for charities](https://fundraising.co.uk/2018/03/07/ghostly-ww1-figures-art-campaign-to-aims-to-raise-15m-for-charities/)(
   7 March 2018)**

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