Aftermath: remembering the Great War in Wales
Of the 700,000 British servicemen who lost their lives in the First World War, 35,000 are listed in the Welsh Book of Remembrance.
The decision taken in 1915 to ban the repatriation of bodies from the battlefield had far reaching consequences in the commemoration process.
The many hundreds of local war memorials across Wales reflected the desire for an immediate and permanent reminder of the dead, as communities sought public acknowledgement for their loss.
Inscriptions on memorials invoke ideals of honour, sacrifice and loyalty, and are often expressed in Welsh and English, or as at Swansea, in Latin. The Second World War prompted a new ear of commemoration.
A selection of different designs of war memorial built throughout Wales is shown in the following image gallery.
War Memorials
Ystrad Mynach UKNIWM Ref: 6803
Whitchurch, Cardiff [UKNIWM Ref: 6724]
Troed-y-rhiw [UKNIWM ref: 6799]
Swansea [UKNIWM ref: 6627]
Seven Sisters [UKNIWM ref: 6853]
Senghenydd [UKNIWM ref: 6791]
St Athan [UKNIWM ref: 17704]. See also: War memorials trust
Ruthin [UKNIWM ref: 7050]
Prestatyn [UKNIWM ref: 7157]
Pontlotyn [UKNIWM ref: 6786]
Pontardawe [UKNIWM ref: 6622]
Penrhiw-ceiber [UKNIWM ref: 6782]
Pendoylan [UKNIWM ref: 37258]
Penarth [UKNIWM ref: 6703]
Oakley Slate Quarries [UKNIWM ref: 51556]
Newport [UKNIWM ref: 2044]
Newport Athletic Club [UKNIWM ref: 3687]
Nantlle [UKNIWM ref: 17391]
Mountain Ash [UKNIWM ref: 6777]
Miskin [UKNIWM ref: 6776]
Merthyr Vale [UKNIWM ref: 2116]
Merthyr Tydfil [UKNIWM ref: 2009]
Llanrhystud [UKNIWM ref: 17476]
Llanharan [UKNIWM ref: 6764]
Llanbradach [UKNIWM ref: 6763]
Llanbadarn Fawr [UKNIWM ref: 6920]
Lampeter [UKNIWM ref: 6813]
Hirwaun [UKNIWM ref: 6761]
Gwauncaegurwen [UKNIWM ref: 6856]
Fochriw
Blaenau Ffestiniog
Dolwyddelan [UKNIWM ref: 17366]
Dolaucothi
Denbigh
Cwmann
Criccieth [UKNIWM ref: 24475]
Cilfynydd [UKNIWM ref: 6756]
Church Village [UKNIWM ref: 17692]
Chirk [UKNIWM ref: 17780]
Cemmaes
Carmarthen [UKNIWM ref: 6809]
Welsh National War Memorial, Cardiff [UKNIWM ref: 6640]
Capel Curig [UKNIWM ref: 24488]
Caerphilly [UKNIWM ref: 6746]
Caernarfon [UKNIWM ref: 6831]
Cadoxton-juxta-Neath
Builth Wells [UKNIWM ref: 6837]
Briton Ferry [UKNIWM ref: 6609]
Tirphil [UKNIWM ref: 6792]
Bridgend [UKNIWM ref: 6738]
Bridgend Police War Memorial [UKNIWM ref: 6739]
Blackwood [UKNIWM ref: 3671]
Bersham [UKNIWM ref: 17812]
Bedwas [UKNIWM ref: 6737]
Barry [UKNIWM ref: 6633]
Barry [UKNIWM ref: 17700]
Bangor War Memorial Gatehouse
Bangor War Memorial
Aberystwyth [UKNIWM ref: 6913]
Abercynon [UKNIWM ref: 6727]
Aberbargoed [UKNIWM ref: 6726]
Aberaeron [UKNIWM ref: 17467]
Comments - (4)
Diolch yn fawr,
Marc
Digital Team
Best wishes
Sara
Digital Team