War Memorial

There can be few alive today who can begin to understand the carnage of World War One. The numbers of fresh-faced young men (mainly men in those days) who had volunteered to take part in the ‘great adventure’ of a European War

Today (15th July) is the 99th anniversary of the unveiling of the War Memorial here in Whitchurch

Ceri Stennett and Gwyn Prescott have written 2 books on the fallen heroes of our village in both WW1 and WW2, and I’m grateful that they have allowed me to use so much of their researches for this blog. Ceri, in particular, has discovered a lot of information about the story of the memorial and the ceremony itself

It seems that just after the end of hostilities there began a great nationwide discussion about how to commemorate the peace, and to recognise the enormous loss. Like so many villages across the country, Whitchurch began this discussion and a parish meeting was held in the YMCA Hut (where was this I wonder?) where various suggestions were made, including the establishment of some kind of institute (as found in many valley towns); perhaps provision for the dependants of the fallen, or possibly scholarships for the children of servicemen. Importantly, it was felt that the monies for the project should be raised solely from the local people of the parish and that the views of the returned servicemen should also be sought

Unsurprisingly, a committee was formed of 20 local worthies who set about planning. A finance subcommittee was also formed to raise funds

Meetings were held very regularly, but little progress was made. It was agreed early on that a memorial hall would be best, but finding land was proving difficult. The Church looked at land adjacent to St Mary’s Churchyard, the site of the YMCA Hall was considered, even buying one of the old mansions in the village (Plas-y-Llan and The Pines were looked at). All to no avail

Time was marching on and nothing seemed to happen (apart from regular committee meetings!). By June 1922, the committee reluctantly acknowledged that a memorial hall would be impossible, and that a monument should be built instead. But what form should it take, and where should it be located? A job for a new committee!

Different locations within the village were considered, and visits to memorials in Radyr, Wenvoe and Lisvane were made. There was talk of a memorial in the style of one at Llandrindod Wells as a possibility. By November 1922 there was agreement that the memorial should be built in front of the library, and that estimates of cost should be invited from Messrs Clarke of Llandaff and also Boulton of Cheltenham

At the committee meeting of 18th January 1923, the design from Boulton was accepted, and the wording on the memorial agreed, ‘The Men of Whitchurch’ was preferred to ‘The Men of the Parish of Whitchurch)

The memorial was to have a bronze figure of a soldier in uniform with his rifle reversed, upon a grey granite base and tiered steps, and surrounded by a light railing. All of this for the cost of £1,000

It was considered very important that the names of the fallen should be inscribed on the memorial, and the committee placed advertisements in the local newspapers and left leaflets at the library and other prominent places asking for relatives to come forward. By the end of January 1923, 110 names had been received, and the list was posted at the library

To continue with the fundraising, a rugby match was held between Glamorgan Wanderers and the Glamorgan Police. I wonder where this was held and what was the score? Anyway, the sum of £37/18/9d was raised. With other donations, the cost seemed to have been raised

In the end, 116 names were inscribed, although Ceri Stennett has discovered that there were many more names that should have been included

Work progressed, and Messrs Boulton advised that the memorial would be completed and ready for unveiling by 14th July. Arrangements for a ceremony were then made

A detailed programme was prepared, and the Bishop of Llandaff invited. There were to be full military arrangements, a male voice choir, brass band, and of course the committee. Albert Bullock who was chair, would lay a laurel wreath

So, on Sunday 15th July 1923, the memorial was unveiled with much pomp and ceremony by the Earl of Plymouth. There was a guard of honour, singing and addresses. The local newspapers reported that there were ‘thousands’ of local residents in attendance. The photograph of the occasion (from Ceri’s book) shows the unveiling

Next year, will be the centenary of that unveiling, and I’m sure that the village will want to commemorate that occasion in a right and proper way

It falls to us who are here today to ensure the flame of remembrance continues on this 99th anniversary

Back in July 1923, the memory of the Great War would have been painfully raw to so many. As we say when we gather at the memorial every November ‘We Will Remember Them’. We really must

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