A PROJECT to enhance a war memorial in a quiet Powys village has finally been finished, thanks to the diligence of one woman who wanted to recognise the full contribution of local people.

Vera Wozencraft first approached Llanbister Community Council in 2019 regarding her own research about people from the village and surrounding area who had served their country during World War I.

Vera had designed the artwork for two separate panels which would fit into a special lectern to be placed at the cenotaph, situated near St Cynllo’s Church, but couldn’t afford to purchase the lectern and panels herself and she was unable to apply for a grant.

The Powys War Memorials Grant scheme had strict rules, so she approached the council.

The project was completed in early 2020 but the pandemic delayed any official unveiling. 

But on June 9, Vera’s dream was finally realised, with locals, including Llanbister Primary School pupils, meeting to unveil the lectern and observe a minute’s silence.

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“It was important to make the youth aware of the names on the memorial so they could connect with the names of people now alive on farms and even through their own families or by knowing other families of friends,” said Councillor Geoff Morgan, who represents Llanbister on Powys County Council and is also a Llanbister community councillor.

School pupils hand drew poppies and put their names to them and printed them round the outside of both panels – a vision from Vera that would bring the generations together in remembrance.

It is estimated that there are between 60,000 and 100,000 war memorials in the UK, but Llanbister’s cenotaph is one of only two in the UK to list not just the fallen, but those from the community who served, survived, were wounded or spent time as prisoners of war during the conflict as well. 

Eight men from in and around Llanbister died during World War I (1914-1918), with one more dying during World War II (1939-1945).

Vera’s research has paved the way for a lectern, which now includes further details about those who died, including their regiments and where the dead men are buried.

John Abraham Price was one of the eight who died during the First World War. Private Price was a cousin for Vera’s grandmother, while she also lives in the same house now that he grew up in.

County Times: Work being completed at the war memorial in Llanbister Work being completed at the war memorial in Llanbister (Image: None)

“My mother died in 2013 and I always said I had wanted to visit the war graves in Europe,” said Vera, which is when the spark for her idea first caught.

“I took details of names off the war memorial in Llanbister, as well as in Llanbadarn Fynydd, Llaithddu and Abbeycwmhir.

“I wanted to find details of all the people from these little communities who played a part in World War I.”

In 2015 she paid her first visit to the Tyne Cot cemetery in Belgium, where her ancestor, Mr Price, is listed – it is the largest cemetery for commonwealth forces in the world, for any war, and the resting place of almost 9,000 British soldiers.

“I carried on my research when I came back and I was invited to the centenary of the Battle of Passchendaele, which is where he disappeared,” added Vera.

“It’s very nice and I’m proud the project is now finished. It’s a little reminder for people and recognition for everyone from Llanbister who served.”

Vera wasn’t actually able to attend the June ceremony as she was away, but she says there had originally been a plan to host an evening and a talk about the war, which she hopes will go ahead in the future.