Centenary Field For WW1 Commemorated In Wrexham

An area of Bellevue Park will be dedicated as a Centenary Field to commemorate WW1 on Sunday. The scheme secures the recreational are for future generations to honour the memory of millions of people who lost their lives in the Great War. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The Centenary Fields initiative was established by the Fields in Trust with the Royal British Legion and Wrexham’s Executive Board agreed to the dedication in March 2015. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Cllr David A Bithell, Lead Member for the Environment and Transport, who will attend the dedication, said: ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“I am very proud that we have been able to honour those who died, many from the Wrexham area, in WW1, with a sustainable and permanent Centenary field. It is particularly appropriate during this the 100th anniversary since the Battle Memetz Wood which saw thousands killed from the Royal Welch Fusiliers which was and is particularly close to people’s hearts in Wrexham. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Wrexham’s Armed Forces Champion, Cllr David Griffiths, said: ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“I am very privileged and honoured to attend Sunday’s event. The area in Bellevue Park has been associated with veterans of the wars who have held memorial events there for many years. The area is easily accessible and there is space to hold events in the future in memory of those who have paid the ultimate price in their service to their country.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Fields in Trust Cymru Chairman Ivor Morgan said: ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“This programme is a fitting way for us to mark the sacrifices made by so many in World War I whilst looking to the future through a living remembrance. We are delighted that Wrexham County Borough Council is embracing Centenary Fields, commemorating the centenary of World War I for the people of Wrexham in a way they can appreciate forever. We look forward to many more landowners following their lead.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

At the ceremony, which starts at 2.00 pm, Father Sam Erlandson, Vicar of All Saints Church, Poyser Street, will lead a short service and the Mayor of Wrexham, Cllr John Pritchard, will unveil the dedication plaque. Ted Edwards Normandy veteran will read the citation after last post and reveille. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​