The Royal British Legion’s striking 23-foot (7 metres tall) First World War sculpture, Every Man Remembered will be at the NEC, Birmingham, from 16-18 April.

The sculpture, originally unveiled in Trafalgar Square,  promotes the Every Man Remembered campaign, which asks members of the public to write their own personal messages of commemoration and thanks to the 1,117,077 men and women from the Commonwealth who fell during the First World War at www.everymanremembered.org.

Charles Byrne, Director of Fundraising at The Royal British Legion, said: “In the years which mark the Centenary of the conflict which gave birth to the poppy as a symbol of Remembrance and hope, the Legion’s role remains as contemporary and as vital as it has ever been, upholding the memory of the fallen and supporting the future of the living.

“As the national custodian of Remembrance, we hope the sculpture will act as a focal point for modern day remembrance in these centenary years.”

The detailed brass sculpture of a soldier is a collaborative piece with artist Mark Humphrey and has been created with the assistance of a team of British makers. Based on the Unknown Soldier, he stands on a block made from limestone sourced from the Somme, in a Perspex obelisk with poppies around his feet and in his arms; every five minutes, poppies are blown in the air around him inside the casing.

“The Centenary Soldier stands proud, shoulders back and head up,” says Mark. “He is made from brass (representing my great-grandfather’s self-decorated bombshell case, which he engraved in the Somme trenches). The soldier's eyes are closed, depicting internal remembrance of every man and woman who fell during the war. He stands in a field of poppies that flutter up and softly fall, paying tribute to each and everyone for their sacrifices made.”

The statue has been confirmed for this year's Who Do You Think You Are? Live show at the NEC as part of the commemorations to mark the 100th Anniversary of the Battle of Gallipoli, in which over 44,000 servicemen fell, in late April.

Tickets for Who Do You Think You Are? Live are available now online at www.whodoyouthinkyouarelive.com or by calling 0877 8737330.