IN FLANDERS FIELD...

The Welsh Memorial in Flanders Campaign aims to build a cromlech in Flanders to commemorate all Welsh soldiers who served during the First World War. The plan is to have the monument completed by the centenary of the war's outbreak in 2014. Local residents in Flanders have already donated land for the memorial. The Passchendaele Society suggested there should be a memorial to the Welsh soldiers who fought in the area. The Society and the Langemark Commune joined forces to purchase a piece of ground near Iron Cross on the Pilckem Ridge and planning permission was granted.

In 1917 there was significant Welsh involvement in the Salient with the 38th (Welsh) Division, the 29th Division with the 2nd South Wales Borderers and the 2nd Battalion, Monmouthshire Regiment and the Welsh Guards in the Guards Division all serving at the front. The memorial will honour all Welshmen serving in many other Welsh units throughout the Salient from 1914 onwards and also in the multitude of non-Welsh units, not to forget the artillery, medical, supply and Tunnelling Companies, amongst other units.

Wales lost more men per capita than any other nation involved in the conflict. The appeal has raised around £11,000 pounds and the stones for the cromlech have been donated, but another £60,000 pound is needed to complete the memorial. Anyone wishing to contribute towards the project can pay direct into a Lloyds/TSB account under Sort Code 30-93-53 and make cheques out to ‘Welsh memorial in Flanders campaign’.