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Media

Broadcast

Newsnight - The Abandoned Soldier - Click to view
'The Battle of Trafalgar Square' to be aired on 21st May at 9pm as part of the BBC2 series 'Power To The People'

Daily Mail - Sarah Sands - Forgotten heroes: how we've abandoned the wounded from Blair's wars (2007-10-20)

16/September/09 - Brick Wall

Unfortunately TAS appears to be unable to get any traction in this political climate it is apparent most military charities or anyone with any connection to the MOD want to keep a wide berth. One can only deduct the powers that be do not want TAS to see the light of day. This means TAS has currently ground to a halt unless any impartial parties in support of the project want to get involved. The objectives remain exactly the same and any money raised to date is being held until we can find some way to progress further. After all, it would be a sad if TAS couldn’t be cast in bronze and find a permanent home in turn raising the profile and supporting soldiers living with the effects of war.

15/September/09 - Footage

Please find links to footage as we are experiencing problem with the links above. Newsnight/Power to the People/BBC Radio Five http://www.jamesnapier.com/index_flash.htm

22/November/07 - Official Image

The official image that can now be found on the right of this page has been elected by majority vote as being the best representation of the sculpture. We hope this image can raise awareness and now become the rallying point for soldiers/veterans who have valiantly fought for our country but are not treated as the heroes they truly are. This image is now being reproduced on badges that we hope to sell in the next three weeks.

07/September/07 - The Latest

The response to The Abandoned Soldier sculpture after the BBC2 ‘Power to the People’ documentary ‘The Battle of Trafalgar Square’ has been fantastic. Thanks to those who donated to the Abandoned Soldier Fund, we have also been touched by the poems we received which can be found on the feedback page of this website. The Abandoned Soldier would appear to have been adopted by many soldiers and veterans who have signed the No. 10 Downing Street petition to erect the statue on the vacant fourth plinth in Trafalgar Square.

The copy of the sculpture featured in the BBC2 ‘Power To The People’ documentary is currently looking for a permanent home and it has been suggested auctioning it to help raise funds for a bronze version. Any suggestions are welcome.

We are also very excited by the news that a bronze copy of The Abandoned Soldier may be commissioned for the National Memorial Arboretum at Alrewas in Staffordshire. If all goes to plan, we hope to have an unveiling later this year. There will be more news to follow, once this has been confirmed.

There has also been an overwhelming response from veterans and the public to see The Abandoned Soldier erected in a high profile location in London. We are working on this and have some interesting leads, but any suggestions for locations, or ways to raise funds would be welcome.

There has been some disquiet at the expense of The Abandoned Soldier miniatures. This is due to the quality, expense and bespoke nature of each sculpture. Without knowing the demand, we were not in a position to produce them at a universally affordable price. To get around this problem and for veterans and soldiers to still show support for this cause, we are looking into badges, cufflinks and other more affordable items. This will only happen once the The Abandoned Soldier image has been chosen. Again, every item sold will be raising money for The Abandoned Soldier Fund and the charity Combat Stress (the only charity to support British ex-Servicemen and women who have been profoundly traumatised by harrowing experiences on active duty).

03/May/07 - 'The Battle of Trafalgar Square'

The documentary 'The Battle of Trafalgar Square', investigating the treatment of Britain’s ex-Service community was broadcast on BBC2 on 21 May at 9 pm, as part of the ‘Power To The People’ series. Journalist and presenter Tim Samuels assembled a platoon of former soldiers, sailors and airmen, who were injured or disabled during their service careers, to tell their stories of the neglect they endured having returning home from war seriously injured. In a meticulously-planned operation, the platoon then invaded Trafalgar Square to erect The Abandoned Soldier. In making the documentary, Samuels sought to bring to the attention of viewers the shortcomings in the after-care of these Servicemen and Servicewomen, some of whom had served in the Falklands Campaign, the First Gulf War and during peacekeeping roles in Belize and Iraq.

21/April/07 - No 10 Downing Street Petition

An e-petition has been lodged on the No. 10 Downing Street website to have this moving work erected permanently on the vacant fourth plinth in Trafalgar Square to honour and remind us of the sacrifice of those who have given so much in the service of our country. This has nothing to do with whether you support any, all, or none of the conflicts to which our Servicemen have been assigned – it is to recognise their fulfilment of their “DUTY”, and to recognise the “DUTY” we all have, to ensure that their physical and mental sacrifices are remembered and recognised, and that our ex-Servicemen are properly and sympathetically looked after when they need our help. http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/AbandonedSoldier

11/April/07 - 'The Abandoned Solider'

The sculpture of “The Abandoned Soldier” has been created to honour those who have fought valiantly for our country, but are not being treated as the heroes they truly are. It was temporarily erected in Trafalgar Square on 20 January 2007 to draw the public’s attention and rally support for soldiers and veterans who have been forgotten, or have received little support, despite serving their country. The sculpture has become a rallying point for all those who have served in the Armed Forces and a campaign is currently underway to cast a bronze version, and to find it a meaningful home. The sculpture was modelled on Daniel Twiddy who was wounded in Basra by friendly fire in 2003 and sustained many injuries including facial wounds from shrapnel.

It is hoped a place of public prominence in London will be found for the statue, so that the public are reminded of the soldiers that struggle to cope, once they return. It's a situation that undoubtedly touches us all, as we probably all know someone, or of someone, that has been, or could be, affected physically or emotionally by war, at some point in their lives. The statue has been created to commemorate all soldiers who put themselves in perilous situations for their country and it allows the public to show their gratitude for their bravery and selflessness.

Money raised by the statue of “The Abandoned Soldier” will also benefit the charities that support all those who have been forgotten. The BBC will be transmitting a documentary in May 2007 investigating the subject, and which will follow the making of the sculpture, from the initial concept, to its installation in Trafalgar Square. Smaller bronze and resin copies will be made. Each copy raising money for The Abandoned Soldier Fund. To find out where to purchase a copy of The Abandoned Soldier and to donate, please scroll down to the Contributions Page.