Remembering our Ypres dead (From South Wales Argus)

Remembering our Ypres dead

3:51pm Monday 25th February 2013 in Letters

IN August next year it will be the 100th anniversary of the beginning of the First World War.

During this war Newport lost tens of hundreds of men, women and children and as yet I have not heard of anything special that Newport City Council will be doing to honour the sacrifices made. On May 8, 2015, it will be the 100th anniversary of the Battle of Frezenberg Ridge, part of the Second Battle of Ypres, where three battalions of the Monmouthshire Regiment were very nearly annihilated and almost 400 hundred of them were killed that day. Many of these were Newport citizens and in the Civic Centre foyer there is a painting depicting one event of this battle. Recently I was researching a memorial consisting of eight trees that were planted in memory of those men that died that day and was situated in Belle Vue Park until they were removed for whatever reason. Newport City Council now has time to consider the reinstallation of this memorial complete with its plaques, which I understand are in storage, for rededication on the anniversary of May 8, 1915. Lest we forget.

Shaun McGuire Mole Close Newport