Royal British Legion Industries (RBLI) has partnered with Transport for London (TfL) to pay tribute to servicemen and women on the 80th anniversary of Victory in Europe (VE Day) on Thursday 8 May.
Military veterans working at RBLI’s social enterprise created special editions of their iconic Unknown Tommy and Unknown Woman in War figures to act as silent memorials for the anniversary across London’s transport network to mark the VE Day week.
They are displayed at five stations – Balham, Bethnal Green, Baker Street, Charing Cross, and Tower Hill – in memory of colleagues and customers who were tragically killed by bombs during the Second World War.
The displays run from Monday 5 May until Sunday 11 May. They are placed by memorial plaques at each of the five stations, which were particularly impacted during the war, resulting in loss of life for many civilians and transport workers.
On Thursday 8 May, a two-minute silence will be observed across London’s transport network at midday, and London’s transport commissioner Andy Lord, along with a member of the London Transport Old Comrades Association and TfL veterans, will lay a wreath at Charing Cross Underground station. The station was bombed in 1940, killing seven people who were sheltering in the station.
Lisa Farmer OBE, chief executive of RBLI, said: “Our enduring mission to support and care for those who have served to defend our freedoms continues to this day.
“Acknowledging sacrifice is an important aspect of remembering those who have served, and VE Day offers a perfect opportunity for that.
“We hope the Unknown Tommy and Unknown Woman in War serve as a means to inspire reflection to all those who see them on the TfL network.
“We are proud of our affiliation with TfL and its support for our work. As a major employer of veterans, TfL has a significant impact in this area.”
The Unknown Tommy and Unknown Woman in War figures were manufactured at RBLI’s Britain’s Bravest Manufacturing Company, based in Aylesford. It is one of three factories operated by the military charity in Kent, Surrey and Scotland, with 70% of its workforce being veterans or people with disabilities.
