Gardener Creates Incredible Remembrance Day Mural In Dirt On His Van

Yesterday marked 100 years since the Armistice agreement was signed, bringing an end to the First World War.

People across the world celebrated the millions of lives which were lost in the grueling four-year conflict, once dubbed the 'war to end all wars'.

And one of those was a self-employed gardener who created a touching message that has been praised by thousands of people on social media.

PA

Using just his finger and the dirt on the back of his van, Shaun Harvey, 34, spent over four hours creating an intricate mural for Remembrance Day, after his six-year-old son Zak asked him to draw a plane.

He said: "My boy wanted me to draw a Lancaster on the back of my van for poppy day (as he calls it)," Mr Harvey told the Press Association.

The solemn tribute shows a Lancaster Bomber flying over a battlefield with a soldier standing next to a grave, and says 'Lest We Forget'.

Mr Harvey, from New York, Lincolnshire, said he was a keen artist at school but hasn't done much since.

Pictures of his van have been shared on Facebook thousands of times and some users have even offered him money.

One user wrote: "You have a massive talent buddy. If you ever fancy drawing me one of these I would gladly pay for it."

After his success on social media, Shaun was invited to Lincolnshire Aviation Heritage Centre to have a picture taken of his van with a real Lancaster Bomber.

He said: "I'm just really thankful for all the love the picture has got.

PA

"I will be drawing on my van again but don't think it will get this much response."

The creative dad isn't the first to pay homage to the millions of soldiers who lost their lives during World War One - director Danny Boyle held a large-scale commemoration that saw huge portraits drawn into the sand of 32 beaches across the UK and Ireland.

An open invitation was issued for people to attend what is called 'Pages of the Sea', to witness the portrait as it was drawn and then washed away by the sea when the tide came in.

The Great War claimed the lives of more than 14 million people, including nine million soldiers from 28 countries.

Topics: UK News, Interesting

Dominic Smithers

Dominic graduated from the University of Leeds with a degree in French and History. Like you, Dom has often questioned how much use a second language has been. Well, after stints working at the Manchester Evening News, the Accrington Observer and the Macclesfield Express, along with never setting foot in France, he realised the answer is surprisingly little. But I guess, c'est la vie. Contact us at [email protected]

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