THE UK government has decided that it will spend £50million in commemoration of the start of the First World War, when British troops were first mobilised on August 4, 1914, and also for the following four years – the official duration of the war, although many men died in the subsequent years from injuries received or policing elsewhere.

My family, both Welsh and Irish, suffered casualties in this war, with two of my great uncles from Cwmbran being lost: one buried at Llantarnam and his brother with no known grave. My father’s cousin, an Irish seaman, was torpedoed en-route to Liverpool.

Now, I know this is no different to perhaps nearly every family in Newport at the time and some families lost multiple sons and brothers during this conflict.

So, hopefully the powers governing Newport City Council will also be planning some extra-special events over the four years of the 100th anniversary of the First World War, to commemorate the sacrifices that many Newport men, women and children and their families made during this time.

Shaun McGuire Mole Close Newport