GWENT men who died in the First World War were commemorated at two ceremonies in Abertillery at the weekend.

About 100 people gathered in the Blaenau Gwent Baptist Church’s graveyard for a service conducted by Jonathan Forman, the church’s pastor, and a second was held in the graveyard of St Paul’s Church.

The mayor of Abertillery, Glyn Smith, said: “It is very nice to see many young people here. Politicians should take more heed: more talk talk and less war war.”

Cllr Smith laid a wreath, along with Abertillery Brownie Emily Clatworthy, eight, and Zoe Clowry, 11, on the grave of WR Rose in the baptist church’s graveyard.

And representatives from the British Legions in Brynmawr, Abertillery, Blaenavon and The Regimental Band & Corps of Drums of The Royal Welsh, based in Newport, also attended the service.

The events were organised over a year by Dave Richings, who brought together surviving relatives of an Abertillery father and son who were both killed during the war at the second service on Saturday morning.

Relatives of Thomas Brickell Sr and Thomas Brickell Jr, who were both killed in the war, met at St Paul’s. Kevin Wyre, from Chigwell in Essex, travelled down on Saturday morning to pay his respects to his great uncle and great grandfather.

He said he believed both father and son had lied about their ages to be accepted into the British Army - Thomas Sr, who is buried in Abertillery, because he would have been too old to serve at 49 years old and because his son, 15 when he signed up, would have been too young. His son is buried in Boulogne.

A further service will be held at St Illtyd’s Church in Aberbeeg next weekend.