Wall tapestry painted by North Staffordshire soldiers from First World War found after 30 years

A wall hanging painted by soldiers returning from the First World War depicting haunting images of the battlefields has been unearthed after being lost for 30 years.

The 70ft-long artwork has been compared to the famous Bayeux Tapestry and includes the names of 1,000 men who were killed in battle.

Soldiers from The North Staffordshire 5th Battalion created the work in the 1920s as a lasting tribute to their fallen comrades.

This wall hanging, painted by soldiers returning from the First World War depicting haunting images of the battlefields, has been unearthed after being lost for 30 years

Soldiers from The North Staffordshire 5th Battalion created the poignant canvas in 1920s as tribute to their fallen comrades. This painting shows a Spitfire during the Battle of Messines in 1917

Soldiers from The North Staffordshire 5th Battalion created the poignant canvas in 1920s as tribute to their fallen comrades. This painting shows a Spitfire during the Battle of Messines in 1917

The regiment lost 20 per cent of their men during the conflict, twice the national average, including thousands at the battles of Ypres and Passchendaele.

The poignant wall hanging went missing in 1985 after it was lost during a building relocation and historians feared it was lost forever.

But it was rediscovered folded up in a council vault and a section is now on display in time for the First World War centenary in November.

The 70ft-long artwork includes the names of 1,000 men who were killed in battle. The regiment lost 20 per cent of their men during the conflict, twice the national average, including thousands at the battles of Ypres and Passchendaele

The 70ft-long artwork includes the names of 1,000 men who were killed in battle. The regiment lost 20 per cent of their men during the conflict, twice the national average, including thousands at the battles of Ypres and Passchendaele

Historian Levison Wood traced the artwork when he was researching a book on the Great War's soldiers in Staffordshire. This image depicts two soldiers squatting in their trench with cigarettes in their mouths, devising a plan

Historian Levison Wood traced the artwork when he was researching a book on the Great War’s soldiers in Staffordshire. This image depicts two soldiers squatting in their trench with cigarettes in their mouths, devising a plan

Historian Levison Wood traced the artwork when he was researching a book on the Great War’s soldiers in Staffordshire.

He said: ‘It represents the teardrops of a whole generation from North Staffordshire and as such it reminds us of the sacrifice these men made.

‘The canvas has probably only got one comparable counterpart, and that lies in the small French village called Bayeux.

‘We think the wall hanging was lost since about 1985 and rediscovered just two years ago.

‘On it you can see every location where the North Staffordshire 5th Battalion served in World War One and also the names of all the men who fell during the conflict.’

The Imperial War Museum has described the canvas as being of national and international significance and is one of the best finds relating to the First World War.

Pictured from left, Paul Simpson, grandson of Major Thomas Simpson who commissioned the painting; Jan Wood, researcher on the project; Councillor Abi Brown, deputy leader of Stoke-on-Trent City Council; and local historian Levison Wood Snr

Pictured from left, Paul Simpson, grandson of Major Thomas Simpson who commissioned the painting; Jan Wood, researcher on the project; Councillor Abi Brown, deputy leader of Stoke-on-Trent City Council; and local historian Levison Wood Snr

Mr Wood traced it back to the stores of The Potteries Museum and Art Gallery in Stoke-on-Trent where a curator searched through half a million artefacts before finding it. This painting shows homes torn apart in the Battle of Loos in September 1915

Mr Wood traced it back to the stores of The Potteries Museum and Art Gallery in Stoke-on-Trent where a curator searched through half a million artefacts before finding it. This painting shows homes torn apart in the Battle of Loos in September 1915

Mr Wood traced the canvas to the stores of The Potteries Museum and Art Gallery, in Stoke-on-Trent, where a curator searched through half a million artefacts before finding it.

It was commissioned by Major Thomas Simpson, who managed Soho Pottery, a ceramics firm in the city.

It was designed and painted in 1923 by returning servicemen, skilled ceramics artists and designers that worked in the pottery industry.

The canvas was designed and painted in 1923 by returning servicemen, skilled ceramics artists and designers that worked in the pottery industry. Pictued: The battlefield in Ypres in 1914, where the Germans was the first used poison gas on the Western Front.

The canvas was designed and painted in 1923 by returning servicemen, skilled ceramics artists and designers that worked in the pottery industry. Pictured: The battlefield in Ypres in 1914, where the Germans was the first mass used poison gas on the Western Front

Though large sections are in urgent need of repair a fragment will be on public display at the museum until November 18.

Councillor Abi Brown, deputy leader of Stoke-on-Trent City Council, said: ‘When we found it we were absolutely staggered by what it revealed.

‘We’ve been able to reveal, for the first time in decades, this absolutely amazing artwork which was created by World War One servicemen.

‘This discovery is particularly poignant as we approach the 100 years commemoration of the end of World War One.

‘Historian Levison Wood spoke to myself and a other people a couple of years ago suggesting that we owned this fantastic canvas and that it was in the archives of the Potteries Museum and Art Gallery.

‘It’s an amazing piece of work and we will now be raising money to have it fully restored so hopefully we can have it all on permanent display in 2021..’

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