A POIGNANT statue of fallen First World War soldier will be coming to Swindon as part of the town's commemorations of the end of the Great War.

Charity Remembered is asking local authorities around the country to buy one of it's 'Tommy' statues, showing an outline of a soldier with the rifle and helmet used and worn in the trenches as part of its There But Not There campaign. It wants to remind people of the sacrifice shown by more than 800,000 British and Commonwealth troops who dies in the war.

And Swindon will be getting one of the £750 statues.

Councillor Toby Elliott, the borough council’s Armed Forces Covenant Champion, said: “We are right behind this national campaign as it is incredibly important we remember the centenary of the end of the First World War and the sacrifices of those who gave their lives for our country.

Coun Elliott said the statue would be placed at the town's cenotaph in time for November 11, which this year coincides exactly with Remembrance Sunday. Before that it will visit other institutions.

He said: "Arrangements are currently being made to bring a Tommy to Swindon and I am keen for it to go on tour to businesses, shopping centres and schools before eventually making its way to the cenotaph for Remembrance Sunday. We will be announcing details of our #tommyontour as soon as they are finalised.”

The news will please Swindon reiseident and former serviceman Peter Mallison.

He was concerned to read that Lord Dannatt, the former head of the British Army has personally written to 433 local authorities across the country asking them to biuy one of the statues to make the campaign a truly nationwide commemoration of the end of the war in 1918, and that only 160 had replied.

He told the Adver: "I have just read page 4 of the Daily Mail headlined “Insult to our Heroes” where it is reported that many of our local council are refusing to buy these Tommy Silhouettes to commemorate servicemen who gave their lives in WW1. The pathetic excuses they give are reported as “pitiful”.

"As an ex serviceman and pensioner I am more than willing to purchase one of these for Swindon BC if they find themselves financially embarrassed.The cost is quoted to be £750 per silhouette, not an astronomic sum."