A MAN from Wigton has joined armed forces personnel serving in the Middle East in commemorating remembrance through their tattoos as part of a project.

Senior Aircraftman Steven Rowe is one of a handful of personnel taking part in the Tribute Ink project that has been organised by the Royal British Legion to embrace a different way of remembering and commemorating the sacrifices made.

Tattoos are a deeply personal and permanent form of remembrance in the military, the intricate designs illustrate losses and sacrifices experienced whilst serving in the armed forces - but also outside of it too.

SAC Rowe has a full sleeve of tattoos on his right arm and a couple more on his left arm.

He said: “Remembrance is a time to reflect on those that gave their lives to help secure the future.

“And we must pay respect to those that have fallen whether that be from the World Wars or from more recent events.”

The striking images of SAC Rowe, and his fellow personnel, were released ahead of this year’s Remembrance Day commemorations which occurred slightly differently without the usual grand public displays.

Tribute Ink has given those involved a way to express how what their tattoos mean to them.

He said: “My tattoos have many meanings, for example a couple of them are in remembrance of lost souls in my family.

“Others are a more symbolic meaning with a nice design going through the dimensions.”

The Tribute Ink exhibition was first unveiled in September last year and was set to be touring the rest of the UK from January earlier this year - however Covid prevented this from taking place.

Since then, more personnel have got involved in the project which has four different themes: rethinking remembrance, remembering the fallen, a badge of belonging and marking the memories.

At the time, Alex Owen, head of Armed Forces engagement at The Royal British Legion, said: “The sacrifices made in the armed forces, big and small, are ones that come to define you.

“The Royal British Legion’s Tribute Ink exhibition aims to uncover some of the inspiring modern stories of Remembrance living on the skin, and in the hearts, of our servicemen and women today.

“From the most elaborate full body coverage to the tiniest tribute to a fallen friend, Tribute Ink aims to offer a glimpse into the comradeship, bravery and sacrifice of our armed forces community.”

In recent years, most branches of the British Armed Forces have relaxed the rules regarding tattoos whilst serving.

The Army now allows people with tattoos on their hands and on the back of their neck to enlist, the RAF is allowing people with neck and eyebrow tattoos to sign up, and the Navy also relaxed rules surrounding tattoos on the neck and hands.

It has led to conversations around diversity in the military and how crucial it is in moving forward.

SAC Rowe said: “Everyone should be included no matter what, whether that be tattoos, ethnicity, sexuality etc.”