Philip Hammond to scrap VAT on the sale of haunting Tommy silhouettes to mark World War One’s centenary next month

PHILIP Hammond is to scrap VAT on the sale of haunting Tommy silhouettes to mark World War One’s centenary next month.

There But Not There’s moving range of figurines – from 25cm to six foot tall in iron of perspex – are see-through outlines of soldiers who fought in the conflict, designed to mark its huge loss of life.

Organisers of the charity campaign, which is backed by The Sun, hope to raise £15million for six good causes.

But the biggest £3m share was set to get swallowed up by the Treasury in VAT.

After pleas from charity bosses and former Army chief Lord Dannatt, the Chancellor has agreed to step in and refund the full tax levied on them.

The cash is part of a £10m package that Mr Hammond will unveil in his Budget on Monday for forces charities to mark 100 years since the Western Front’s guns fell silent on November 11.

A source close to the Chancellor said: “As a former Defence Secretary, Philip is keen for the Treasury to do its bit in marking this very important anniversary, as well as help veterans whenever we can as well”.

Lord Dannatt said last night that he was “delighted” with the intervention.

The hero general told The Sun: “The great British Public have backed this campaign so well in the memory of our Fallen and to help those recovering from more recent conflicts.

“The Chancellor has made the right decision – good for him and good for our Veterans!”

One of the six charities benefiting is Help For Heroes.

Its CEO Melanie Waters said: We are pleased that the Government is showing that it values and appreciates Veterans with this announcement.”

“Every day, seven members of the Armed Forces are medically discharged for mental and physical health reasons, and earlier this month King’s College London released a report showing a significant increase in PTSD in the military.

“The sales of Tommies will support those brave Veterans who are still living with wounds from their service in the Armed Forces.”

More than 122,000 signed a petition for the campaign to scrap VAT on the Tommies.

Thousands of Tommies have already been bought.

Sales are expected to reach a peak over the next two weeks in the run up to the sombre anniversary, with them being displayed in home and public places across towns and cities nationwide.

The other five causes to benefit are The Royal Foundation, The Commonwealth War Graves Commission, Walking with the Wounded, Combat Stress, and Project Equinox.

VAT was returned to charities benefiting from the sale of the 888,246 ceramic poppies that had been planted at the Tower of London and were then sold for £25 each.