AN arts project in which ‘ghost soldiers’ marched off the Torpoint Ferry and through the streets of the town is up for a major national award.

‘We’re here because we’re here’, the modern memorial created by Turner Prize-winning artist Jeremy Deller to mark the centenary of the Battle of the Somme, has been nominated for a National Lottery Award as best heritage project. 

Theatre Royal Plymouth was one of 26 organisations across the UK who collaborated on the project with 14-18 NOW – the UK’s arts programme for the First World War centenary. 

Volunteers dressed in First World War uniform appeared unexpectedly in locations across the UK on July 1, 1916, wearing historically accurate uniforms, representing 15 of the regiments that suffered losses in the first day of the Battle of the Somme. Participants did not speak, but handed out cards to members of the public with the name and regiment of the soldier they represented, and, where known, the age of the soldier when he died on July 1, 1916. The card also contained the hashtag #wearehere. The soldiers visited over 900 sites across the UK, including train stations, car parks and shopping centres from Shetland to Plymouth.

The National Lottery Awards are an annual search to find the UK’s favourite Lottery-funded projects. The winners are decided by public vote. To vote please visit: