A UNIQUE memorial to Notts war heroes has been unveiled to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the First World War.
Military Boots is a work of art made up of labels stitched with the names of the brave men, who served in both world wars.
Relatives of the veterans were invited to embroider the names by artist Joy Pitts, who is previewing the picture at Bromley House Library in Nottingham this week.
Families of men and women, who have served in the Armed Forces more recently, have also been involved in the project, which is now very close to completion.
Around 500 names feature in the picture depicting the kind of boots worn by those in the military. Two young men, one in the Navy and a soldier fresh from his passing out parade, stitched their own tags.
Joy, a civil servant, who lives near Ilkeston said: "It's quite moving. People have really felt part of it and really wanted to pay tribute."
Margaret Chilton, 87, of Wollaton Park, embroidered name tags in memory of her father Reginald Panting and uncle Arthur Allen.
Both served with the Sherwood Foresters in the First World War.
Mr Panting, who lived in Forest Fields, was demobbed in 1919 and later became a painter for petrol company Shell Mex, bringing up three daughters with his wife Alice. He died in 1967 months before his 80th birthday.
Sadly Mrs Chilton never met her uncle as he died aged 19 in Ypres.
The keen knitter, who made poppies for the Nottingham Contemporary exhibition last November, turned her hand to needle and thread to honour her relatives.
She said: "I think it's a lovely idea to remember them all. This is something that is going to be lasting and lets people know the sacrifices they made."
Her daughter Linda Freeman, 64, of Wollaton said: "We feel privileged to participate. We're going on Friday to have a look – we are quite excited."
Many families have more than one relative to honour.
Sarah Greig, of Calverton, and her mother Jean Hines, from Lambley, embroidered ten names including Mrs Greig's brother-in-law John, who is still serving in the Army.
They were the first to view the canvas when it went on display yesterday. Picking out the names she stitched, Mrs Hines said: "It chokes you up."
Shirley D'Oyley remembered not just her dad but also his six crew mates, who died before his eyes, after a plane crashed into their Lancaster bomber over Germany in World War Two.
Arthur D' Oyley survived when the 'bubble' he was in broke off.
"As it went down he looked up and saw the plane explode with all his mates inside," said Miss D'Oyley, who lives in Lincolnshire.
The airmen were all young men, barely into their twenties.
Her father, who was badly injured in the accident, ended up a prisoner of war at Camp Staleg.
Shirley, a tutor and florist, said: "He rarely spoke about it but when he did it was always "my mates" and there was a guilt that he survived and they paid the price."
After Mr D'Oyley died aged 71 in 1993, his daughter researched his wartime past and recently discovered the names of his fellow crewmen.
"I think what Joy is doing is wonderful – she is very talented.
"It's nice they are all going to be remembered as a crew somewhere together. Call me sentimental but I love that."
The canvas can be seen the rest of this week from 10.30am-4pm and 9.30am-12.30pm on Saturday.
Last year the Post told how Joy was commissioned by international fashion designer Sir Paul Smith to create a rabbit out of his clothing labels.
