Pages of the Sea will see people gather on beaches across the UK at low tide on Sunday 11 November for an informal, nationwide gesture of remembrance for the men and women who left their home shores during the First World War.

A large-scale portrait of a casualty of the war, designed by sand artists Sand In Your Eye, will be drawn into the sand at each location and washed away as the tide comes in.

Everyone welcome 

Everyone is invited to participate by creating silhouettes of people in the sand, remembering the millions of lives lost or changed forever by this, the first global conflict.

The public can also explore an online gallery of portraits of some of the men and women who served, and select someone to say a personal goodbye to either via social media or as they gather in person on beaches on 11 November.

[quote=Film-maker Danny Boyle]“Beaches are truly public spaces, where nobody rules other than the tide. They seem the perfect place to gather and say a final goodbye and thank you to those whose lives were taken or forever changed by the First World War.”[/quote]

Visitors to the website can also add portraits of members of their family or community who contributed to the First World War. These will be added to Imperial War Museum’s Lives of the First World War, a permanent digital memorial to those who lived through and fought in the First World War. 

Talking about his concept for the mass-participation artwork, Danny said: "Beaches are truly public spaces, where nobody rules other than the tide. They seem the perfect place to gather and say a final goodbye and thank you to those whose lives were taken or forever changed by the First World War.”  

Five years of 1418NOW

Pages of the Sea is the culmination of the National Lottery-funded 1418NOW, a five-year programme of arts commissions marking the First World War centenary.

More than nine million people have taken part in the First World War Centenary through 1418NOW. It has included Dazzle camouflaged ships in Liverpool and London; the UK tour of Weeping Window and Wave from the Tower of London art installation Blood Swept Lands and Seas of Red; PROCESSIONS celebrating 100 years of votes for women; Letter to the Unknown Soldier; and We’re Here Because We’re Here.

Later this year Peter Jackson’s film, They Shall Not Grow Old, hits cinema screens.

Find out more

Find out which beaches are taking part by visiting the Pages of the Sea website #PagesoftheSea.