Replica war cemetery accompanies new CWGC exhibition at Cardiff Castle

The essence of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission’s (CWGC) battlefield cemeteries has been brought to the centre of Cardiff to mark 100 years since the Armistice.

The replica cemetery serves as a moving reminder of the Welsh war sacrifice has been installed at Cardiff Castle to accompany a new exhibition about the CWGC’s origins and the role played by Wales in the First World War.

The exhibition, entitled Shaping Remembrance, was officially unveiled by the Welsh minister for culture, tourism and sport Lord Dafydd Elis-Thomas AM on Wednesday 24 October at the castle’s Firing Line Museum.

It includes a full-size Portland stone CWGC headstone and tells the story of the Commission’s work to remember the war dead. It also shines a light on Wales’ involvement in the First World War, including a letter from the poet Hedd Wyn’s father which has never been on public display before.

Dr Glyn Prysor, chief historian at CWGC, said: “As we approach the centenary of the 1918 Armistice, this is an opportunity to reflect on all those who lived through the First World War, and particularly those who lost their lives.

“I’m always moved to see the insignia of a Welsh regiment on one of our war graves, or to read a family inscription in Welsh on a headstone. You can find Commonwealth War Graves Commission cemeteries and memorials all over the world, as well as in Wales, and this installation at Cardiff Castle will give visitors a sense of their unique atmosphere.

“Our Shaping Remembrance exhibition tells the story of how the British Empire commemorated its dead and highlights several fascinating Welsh aspects of that long and emotional process. We’re particularly excited to share a letter from Hedd Wyn’s father which has never been on public display before.”

Christopher Dale, director of The Firing Line Museum, said: “The Firing Line Museum is delighted to be working in partnership with the Commonwealth War Graves Commission on this exhibition. It highlights the significant work that CWGC does in preserving the memories of all those who lost their lives during the two World Wars.”

The Shaping Remembrance exhibition sits in the castle’s Firing Line Museum of The Queen's Dragoon Guards and The Royal Welsh, and will be open until Saturday 15 December.

It is estimated that well over 30,000 Welsh men and women died during the First World War. An exact figure is impossible to calculate, but CWGC commemorates more than 27,000 war casualties from Welsh regiments. Thousands more died while serving in other units, including in the Royal Navy and Mercantile Marine, the air forces, and medical services.