WELSH MEMORIAL IN LANGEMARK, FLANDERS During a visit to Flanders, Belgium in 2010, Peter Carter Jones noticed that whilst Australia, Canada and Scotland had national monuments, there was no national memorial for Wales. He led the campaign for a memorial, supported by the press, a committee and a fund-raising appeal. Individuals and organisations across Wales, including the Welsh Government, contributed. The Passchendaele Society 1917 in Belgium supported the campaign, and the Council of Langemark-Poelkapelle near Ypres gave a piece of land. The land is on the Pilckem Ridge where so many Welsh soldiers were killed or injured. The Passchendaele Society 1917 suggested a cromlech as a fitting memorial, and Craig yr Hesg quarry near Pontypridd generously gave the large stones for the structure. A six foot bronze dragon for the top was designed by Welsh sculptor Lee Odishow, as the winning design in a competition organised by Arts Council Wales. A tri-lingual engraved slate plaque by Malcom Gray of St Davids completes the memorial.
The unveiling took place in August 2014 with over 1000 people, many dignitaries, and Côr Rygbi Gogledd Cymru. Hundreds of people, including HRH Prince Charles in 2017, have now visited the memorial and garden, and it is a respectful tribute to all Welsh soldiers who lost their lives in the First World War.
Above: Welsh Memorial in Langemark. Image by Eric Compernolle © Welsh Government CYMRU’N COFIO WALES REMEMBERS 1914−1918 |
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