THE long-awaited bronze statue of a First World War soldier will be installed ahead of Remembrance Sunday.

Westcliff artist and sculptor, Dave Taylor, was commissioned by Southend Council in December last year to create the life-size sculpture.

It has now been revealed that the work of art will become a permanent figure in front of the Southend Cenotaph after its installation next Tuesday.

It will be officially unveiled by mayor John Lamb next Thursday.

Southend Council submitted the application for the statue in July after asking the 45-year-old sculptor to create it as part of the 100th anniversary of the end of the First World War.

The statue is 69 inches tall and was modelled on Ethan Harvey, from Norfolk, who dressed in First World War soldier gear.

Dave admitted to not having much knowledge on First World War clothing but sought expert advice to ensure the statue was a perfect replica.

He told the Echo: “I had to use lots of photographs of Ethan and measurements from him to get it right.

“The idea was to create a faithful replica of what a solider would look like on the first day of the Battle of the Somme.

“So the gear he wore was accurate for that time of the war. Even down to the spade, and the entrenching tool.

“They carried an awful lot of equipment around.

“It was very challenging to make; not just having to work with a large piece of clay, but having to get all the fine details right.

“Lots of people are going to see it and it’s a very important subject that means an awful lot to people.

“I hope it will be there for a very long time.

“It’s a privilege to be asked to make something like that.”

The sculptor, who has made many other types of art for Southend, explained the lengthy process that had gone in to creating the sculpture.

It took him about a month to complete before it was shipped off to Morris Singer Foundry, in Alton, where it received its bronze casting. The foundry took three months to produce the bronze.

Dave added: “They make a wax cast of the soldier and use a lost wax process. So they take the wax soldier and cover it in ceramic material that can take high temperatures, then melt the wax out until you’re left with a hollow space to poor the bronze into. It’s very exciting to watch.”

The statue will be installed with a crane to be as careful as possible with the rest of the memorial greenery.