Eaglet pays respects to WW1 dead at stunning temporary poppy memorial in Liverpool

Poppies spill out of a window at one of Liverpool’s most famous buildings as reservists and civilian staff from HMS Eaglet pay their respects to the nation’s Great War dead.

Thirteen personnel and staff from the North-west’s naval HQ and reservist hub, led by the Royal Navy’s regional commander Commodore Gary Doyle, were invited to see the Wave and Weeping Window.

It’s a roving version of the hugely successful Blood Swept Lands and Seas of Red installation at the Tower of London which wowed the nation back in 2014.

That saw 888,246 ceramic poppies ‘planted’ in memory of the Commonwealth dead in World War 1; when the display was removed, the poppies were sold, raising more than £20m for the Royal British Legion.

Around 20,000 of the poppies were bought to preserve part of the display so it could go on tour around the UK as part of the First World War centenary commemorations, with Liverpool’s imposing and impressive St George’s Hall the display’s latest stop.

The square between St George’s Hall and Liverpool Lime Street station was used as a rallying point for the city’s Pals battalion in WW1 – and became the site of the cenotaph which commemorates more than 13,000 Liverpudlians who died in the Navy, Army and fledgling RAF in the 1914-18 conflict.

Though much smaller than the Tower of London installation, the sculpture at St George’s still had the ability to move.

Writer Emma Holliday said: “It was humbling to visit an iconic piece of artwork at an iconic Liverpool landmark and take a moment to reflect on the sacrifices made by others.

“It was a chance for quiet reflection on the impact of war on Liverpool and the Royal Navy.”