The Fallen of the Tawe Valley

The piece below was written in the "Valley Star" 4th May 1978, a weekly newspaper founded by George Ashwell and John Hogan.

WAR MEMORIAL AT LAST FOR YSTRADGYNLAIS
Ystradgynlais district has had the strange distinction of being the only area in South Wales without a war memorial. The local British Legion is, however, doing something about that.

My database originally began to list the fallen of Ystalyfera. With names taken from the local War Memorial, I set out to find and photograph war graves and remembrance graves scattered throughout the surrounding Church and Chapel yards. It soon became obvious that many fallen are mentioned on more than one war memorial and are commemorated or buried further a field. Over the last decade my search has had to expand until eventually the database now covers the War Memorials of the Tawe Valley.

As the years progress it also becomes harder to find evidence of the fallen but by collecting information from memorials and plaques found in schools, works, libraries etc. I hope to be able to piece together as much information as possible to obtain an accurate record. May I take this opportunity in saying I apologise if any of the facts and figures prove to be inaccurate and cause any offence or distress to the families of the fallen.

Comments or advice will be welcomed and I would be grateful for any information especially photographs that can be added to the site where appropriate.

Although Ystradgynlais falls within Powys, it is the next town up the Valley from Ystalyfera. Due to its close proximity it was only natural to broaden the research to include the fallen from Ystradgynlais and its surrounding villages.

All research by YEARGROUP
 Val Trevallion
 yeargroup@hotmail.co.uk

The War Graves information on this website begins with the War Memorial in Ystradgynlais, and then is categorised by the churchyards and cemeteries in which the fallen are either buried, or remembered. Coverage then extends to memorials and plaques of remembrance in the local area, including those in chapels, welfare halls and parks.