Troedrhiwfuwch Memories
Village at war
Some gave all & all gave some
Troedrhiwfuwch War Memorial was unveiled 17th September 1933 by Capt. Dr. F O'Neil of Rhymney. In the small village of 500, 16 men gave their lives to the Great War (1914-1918) & one during World War 2 (1939-1945). The village was recognised for it's high recruitment numbers with 110 men from 94 houses enlisted for war.
© Jervis R. Pearce
"There wasn't a town or village in the country which could boast of the record won by Troedrhiwfuwch"
The War Memorial was unveiled Sunday 17th of September 1933 by Capt. Dr. F. O’Neil, M.C of Rhymney.
“These men deserve perpetual honour and remembrance and thoses of us who know the horrors of war realise to the full what they went through"
© Jervis R. Pearce
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Merthyr Express 23rd September 1933
Through The Years
A poem was published in the Western Mail January 1915, four months before Monmouthshire's Black Day.
Hurrah for the village
Whose name here we tell
A name to the Saxon
Not easy to spell
Where’er there be slackers
They’re not ‘mongst the youth
Who hail from the hamlet
of Troedrhiwfuwch
From ninety-four houses,
one hundred and ten
Is the number recruited
of gallant young men.
There is no heart-burning
No shadow of ruth
To smirch the bold manhood
Of Troedyrhiwfuwch
All hail to these champions
Their village to raise
To a level demanding
The highest of praise
Is dear old wales gallant?
It is so in truth
When judged by the standard
Of Troedyrhiwfuwch
Now young men who hesitate
When you should go
See, here’s an example
To make your hearts glow
Just slip up yon valley
And sample in sooth
The fine manly breezes
Of Troedyrhiwfuwch
By IDRIS
In Danger
In 1995 The War Memorial was in danger of being damaged due to decaying buildings around it. Annwen Morgan, former Chairperson of Rhymney Valley District Council said the War Memorial needs to be moved. She said "It's a memorial and I object to it being in such dreadful surroundings. I fear the buildings around will fall on it". A public meeting was planned to test opinions. David Cooper, The District Councils Public Service Manager, said that plans were made in 1991 to move the War Memorial but were later abandoned after the public opposed of the idea. The Councils Deputy Leader, Harry Andrews said "It's a superb little monument with a ram-shackled barn behind". The Welsh Development Agency agreed to include Troedrhiwfuwch in the £28,000 landscaping programme. It was agreed that improvements to the War Memorial should be included in the scheme. Troedrhiwfuwch received a £1,000 budget for landscaping.
