Lance Corporal Benjamin Hyde was a member of the Royal Military Police who died on June 24 2003, aged 23
Artwork depicting British troops killed in Iraq by BAFTA-winning war artist Steve McQueen will go on display in the Teeside city many of the soldiers hailed from next month.
The Middesbrough Institute of Modern Art will debut Queen and Country to mark the sixth anniversary of the invasion of Iraq, featuring postage sheets showing portraits of each combatant chosen by their families.
“It is an incredible honour for MIMA to display this piece of artwork when one considers the content and also the standing of Steve McQueen as an artist,” responded Ray Mallon, Mayor of the city.
“I am really looking forward to seeing this piece of work, and I do believe that many people across the North of England and beyond will visit mima to see this wonderful tribute to our fallen heroes.”
A number of soldiers from the North East area are portrayed, including Sergeant Sharron Elliott, an Intelligence Corps member from South Shields who was killed when a bomb exploded on a bridge in Basra in November 2006.
Her mother, Elsie Manning, said the stamps were “a great way of honouring and recognising” the “sacrifice” made by military personnel.
The mother of Staff Sergeant Sharron Elliott, who died on November 12 2006, aged 34,, said the work would "help to keep her memory alive."
“It is a brilliant work of art and something to be proud of, especially for the families who have lost a loved one,” she added. “They should never be forgotten, and work like this helps to keep their memory alive.”
155 families have collaborated so far, but McQueen is enlisting support from The Art Fund for an online petition urging the Royal Mail to complete the project by officially issuing the stamps.
“Queen and Country is a beautiful and deceptively simple work of art that poignantly reminds us of the enormous sacrifices made by British men and women serving in the armed forces in Iraq,” said Art Fund Director David Barrie, announcing 16,500 signatories to the campaign since it launched.
“I’m delighted that The Art Fund is bringing Queen and Country to MIMA and hope that many more people will have the opportunity to see the work and support the campaign.”
Visit http:// www.artfund.org/queenandcountry to sign the petition.
