Exclusive by Alan Quick

BLACKSMITHS from the Crediton area have contributed to a striking new World War One Cenotaph which will be unveiled at the Grote Markt, in front of the In Flanders Fields Museum in Ypres, Belgium.

The Cenotaph will be located adjacent to the German War Cemetery at Langemark Poelkapelle.

Standing seven metres tall and weighing 12 tonnes, the metal Cenotaph for the 21st century will feature the evocative image of a single Flanders poppy surrounded by a field of 2016 steel poppies handcrafted by blacksmiths and farriers worldwide, including dozens of poppies made by local blacksmiths at a Crediton smithy.

Hundreds of blacksmiths and farriers from around the world will come together in Ypres to create the Cenotaph in the week-long event, which begins tomorrow, Thursday, September 1 and will end on September 6.

The Cenotaph will be unveiled during the Ypres 2016, an international blacksmithing event.

It was at the smithy of Paul Gilbert at Spencecombe, near Crediton, that Paul gathered blacksmith friends Simon Ripley from Crediton, Gregg Able from Moretonhampstead, James Dean from Newton Abbot, Ollie Bramston from North Tawton and Andrew Hall from Branscombe to spend time turning blank cuts of metal into 50 hand-crafted poppies.

The process involved heating the blank cuts of metal then using a power hammer and hammers to make the poppies.

Paul said that he and his colleagues were “proud” to contribute towards the lasting World War One memorial.

He explained that the poppies, 2016 being crafted world-wide, would be placed on stems and would surround the main structure of the new Cenotaph.

The unique Cenotaph in Ypres commemorates everyone involved in the conflict, both military and civilian on both sides. It is for all those who died, all who were wounded, all those displaced and, of equal importance, their families and their communities.

In the War of 1914 to 1918 blacksmiths and farriers were indispensable in sustaining the war effort of both sides.

The Cenotaph is based on the internationally recognised icon, the Flanders Field Poppy.

The Cenotaph will include not only the poppies but individually designed panels, echoing the trenches.

Each individually designed metal panel will make reference to thoughts and feelings of "the war to end wars".

The German War Cemetery in Langemark-Poelkapelle in Belgium, adjacent to where the Cenotaph will be installed, is visited by hundreds of thousands of people each year.

Two celebrated authors are Patrons to the project, Michael Morpurgo, author of “War Horse”, and Sebastian Faulks, historical novelist.

The official ceremony to unveil and inaugurate the completed Poppy Cenotaph will take place on November 11, 2016.

Further information is available on the project and can be seen on the website: www.Ypres2016.com .