PUPILS from a Torfaen school have paid tribute to a WW1 love story by creating a film chronicling a series of letters sent between a soldier and his sweetheart.

Part of a Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) and Gwent Archives project, the film is based around letters written by Private William O’Brien to his sweetheart Rose Curtis, from Abersychan, during WW1.

Pupils from Ysgol Bryn Onnen, in Varteg, worked alongside artist and historian, Tom Maloney, in making the six-minute production.

Parents and guests were invited to the school for a Hollywood-style premiere recently, with children dressed in historical costumes.

Among those in attendance were members of the Royal British Legion Blaenavon Branch and Ms Curtis’ daughter-in-law, Joan Nash - who discovered the letters following her death in 1980.

Teacher Gareth Watkins said: “It’s just been a fantastic experience for all the children going to Gwent Archives and seeing the letters from themselves. It really inspired them.

“It truly is a magnificent, yet tragic, story that must not be forgotten.”

William O’Brien was a grenadier guard from Newport, who joined the army in November 1915 and was deployed to France in 1916. He was killed shortly after the Battle of Pilckem Ridge in August 1917.

But before enlisting, he was a police constable in Abersychan - which was when he met Ms Curtis.

She lived with her parents, George and Ada, at the time, at the Crown Inn - where her father was the landlord. 

During his police training, Mr O’Brien formed a friendship with Jack Nash, who later replaced him as police constable in Abersychan, and went on to marry Rose in 1920.

But Ms Curtis kept the letters sent to her by Mr O’Brien.

Ysgol Bryn Onnen pupils Nicole Parfitt and Rory Jenkins portrayed William and Rose in the film.

For more information on the project visit visitgwentarchives.gov.uk