Taking memorial surveys to new heights

It’s recommended that war memorials be surveyed regularly to inspect their condition and identify any potential risks or conservation work that might required.  While this is straightforward enough in many cases, some memorials pose more of a challenge!

Aberystwyth war memorial is a 25-metre tall column, topped by a bronze, winged female figure representing victory.  Standing on the seafront, it has been exposed to the elements for over eighty years.  In order to assess its current condition, a team of climbers will abseil down the column with video equipment and the film footage will be viewed by a team of specialist conservators on the ground.

Read more from News Wales

On the subject of the Aberystwyth war memorial, the ‘Gathering the Jewels’ website has some fascinating archive footage of its unveiling in 1923.

Click here to see the film clips

End of a long journey for Falklands memorial

A crowd of a thousand gathered yesterday in Cardiff to witness the unveiling of a new memorial to the Falklands conflict.  Veterans and relatives of the fallen were among those attending the remembrance service.  The memorial consists of a 5 tonne memorial stone carved with the names of the 255 British servicemen and 3 Falkland Islanders who were killed.  The stone itself is a gift from the Islanders and has been shipped 8,000 miles from the Falkland Islands.

Read more from BBC News

Victoria Cross winner remembered

A Victoria Cross winner, Sergeant Ivor Rees, was honoured with a new memorial plaque last week.  More than 60 members of his family were expected to attend the unveiling in his home town of Llanelli.

Sgt Rees was awarded the VC for capturing a German machine gun at Passchendaele.  He survived the First World War and lived until 1967, serving in the Home Guard during the Second World War.

Read more from BBC NEWS

Sir Galahad dead remembered

Friday saw 25 years since the bombing of the Sir Galahad during the Falklands War.  The anniversary was marked by a memorial service in Swansea.

Forty-eight men were lost during the attack on the ship. One unusual and touching memorial to those killed and injured on the Sir Galahad is a lifeboat stationed at Tenby.

Tenby Memorial Lifeboat

It was thought fitting that the lifeboat that bears the name Sir Galahad should be sent to a Welsh station, since the ship was attacked whilst disembarking units of the Welsh Guards at San Carlos Bay.  The lifeboat is considered, ‘a modern war memorial that saves lives’.

Meanwhile, on Friday it was also announced that Wales’ memorial to the victims of the Falklands War will be unveiled in Cardiff on 30 September 2007.  The memorial will be made up of a five tonne stone, which has travelled 8,500 miles from the Falklands Islands. The stone was found at Mount Harriet, a significant battle site for the Welsh Guards.

Read more about this unusual memorial stone