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Travel

Poppies at the Tower of London

written by Brenna Holeman November 10, 2014

photo-5

If you live in London, or have travelled there recently, you probably visited the Tower of London to see the poppies. But for those who couldn’t make it, I wanted to share photos from last week, when I saw it for myself.

Tower of London Poppies 9

888, 426 individual ceramic poppies were placed around the Tower of London, one for each British military casualty in the First World War. While it is visually stunning, I was completely overwhelmed by the tragedy it represents. My great-grandfather fought in WWI as part of the Scottish sector of the Canadian army; he lost a leg in the war due to a shrapnel after an explosion in France. It could have been much worse, of course.

Tower of London Poppies 3

Tower of London Poppies 8

The installation of poppies at the Tower of London has raised millions of pounds for charity (people can buy them for £25 to help raise money and awareness), and it has been confirmed that part of the exhibition will remain there until the end of November. After that, some of the installation will travel through the UK.

Tower of London Poppies 2

Tower of London Poppies 4

The installation was hauntingly beautiful… but lest we forget what it represents. Let’s take a moment to remember, not just on Remembrance Day, but every day.

Tower of London Poppies 7

 

In Flanders fields the poppies blow
      Between the crosses, row on row,
   That mark our place; and in the sky
   The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
   Loved and were loved, and now we lie
         In Flanders fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
   The torch; be yours to hold it high.
   If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
         In Flanders fields.

–John McCrae

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Brenna Holeman

Brenna Holeman has travelled to over 100 countries in the past 15 years, many of them solo. She's a big fan of whisky and window seats.

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12 comments

Michelle November 11, 2014 - 7:06 am

I haven’t been to London since this was started, and I won’t make it there until December 10, but I have followed the poppy installation since its beginning in August. It is one of the most breath-taking, hauntingly beautiful scenes I have ever seen, and I’m sure it’s much more moving in person. Thanks for sharing this.

Reply
Brenna Holeman November 11, 2014 - 6:55 pm

It really is breathtaking, but so moving and sad. I’m glad that you will get to see some of the installation in December…

Reply
Alex November 11, 2014 - 6:16 pm

Saw these last week… didn’t have the patience to try and get any photos, too many people! Yours are great though. Lest we forget.

(PS. Also tried one of your east end cafe recommendations – Nude Espresso – so so sooo good. Thanks for the tip!)

Reply
Brenna Holeman November 11, 2014 - 6:57 pm

There were definitely huge crowds when I was there, too – I had to be very patient!

Glad you liked Nude, I haven’t been there in ages but I should definitely go back soon…

Reply
rebecca November 14, 2014 - 3:13 am

I saw all this online somewhere, its pretty impressive. I remember when I did live in London walking through the tube stations with people selling poppies. That was the first time I had heard of them.

Reply
Brenna Holeman November 14, 2014 - 1:52 pm

I grew up with poppies in November as it’s done for Remembrance Day in Canada. The installation in London was indeed impressive, but so overwhelming.

Reply
Camille November 16, 2014 - 1:56 am

My grandparents saw this when they most recently visited our relatives who live outside of London. Their pictures were amazing!

Reply
Brenna Holeman November 17, 2014 - 12:54 pm

I bet… I think it was hard to take a bad photo there, it was so incredible.

Reply
Anna @ shenANNAgans November 17, 2014 - 3:36 am

Wow, what a sight, really looks pretty darn impressive. Makes me want to visit London again. Beautiful pics, go you battling the crowds to snap this.

Reply
Brenna Holeman November 17, 2014 - 12:56 pm

Thankfully everyone was very polite… the crowds weren’t so bad in the end!

Reply
Zalie November 21, 2014 - 12:29 am

This is so incredible. Your pictures are amazing.

Reply
Brenna Holeman November 22, 2014 - 12:16 am

Thank you sister xoxo

Reply

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About Me

About Me

Hi, I'm Brenna

My name is Brenna Holeman and I drink a lot of whisky. No, wait. That’s not how I want to start. After travelling to more than 100 countries over the past 15 years, many of them solo, I tend to write about travel a lot, but I write about other things, too: getting dumped, buying way too much jewellery, and yeah, OK, whisky (none of those things are related, I swear). You’ll find a mix of advice, opinion pieces, and stories on this blog, but either way, I hope to make you want to read more. And up next? I'm about to become a single mom to a beautiful baby boy, the biggest solo adventure I've ever been on. For more about me and what you'll find on This Battered Suitcase, click here .

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Our battered suitcases were piled on the sidewalk again; we had longer ways to go. But no matter, the road is life." - Jack Kerouac

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This Battered Suitcase is not only about the where and the how of travel, it's about the who and the why.

Originally from Canada, all I've ever wanted to do is travel. After eleven years of solo travel and over 90 countries, I'm currently living in London and fulfilling my other dream of becoming a writer. If I'm not travelling, I'm writing about it, either for my blog, my job, or my book. I firmly believe there is adventure everywhere, so long as you keep your eyes (and your mind, and your heart) open. Join me as I continue to look for these adventures. Hopefully you'll find your own, too.

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