On Wednesday 21st September 2016, a ceremony was held to dedicate a new memorial plaque placed in the grounds of Bedwellty Park in Tredegar, which honours the locally recruited men of the ‘3rd Mons’ Battalion who gave their lives during their the 1914-18 ‘Great War’.

The Monmouthshire Regiment had been formed in 1908 as a Territorial Army unit, comprising three Battalions drawn from different areas of the county. Abergavenny was the headquarters of the 3rd Battalion (“3rd Mons”) which included two companies from Abertillery, one each from Blaina, Sirhowy, Tredegar, Ebbw Vale and Cwm and one company from Abergavenny - where a Gilbert Ledward designed war memorial also pays tribute to the battalion’s war dead.

The memorial and ceremony was arranged by Blaenau Gwent Heritage Forum to mark the centenary of the destruction of the 3rd Mons, and featured readings from Volunteer Chaplain Pierre Cornlouer, Mike Pescod who represented the British Legion and Steve Liversage BEM who represented the Welsh Guards.

Following the short ceremony at the memorial plaque, which situated beside the circular garden and near the War Memorial, the guests relocated the Assembly Room within Bedwellty House for a presentation.

Ralph James and Peter Morgan-Jones of Blaenau Gwent Heritage Forum offered a brief history of the Monmouthshire Regiment’s 3rd Battalion that was involved in several notable battles throughout the ‘Great War’, including the Second Battle of Ypres and the Battle of the Somme, and explained what life was like in the front line trenches for many soldiers.

Peter Morgan-Jones of Blaenau Gwent Heritage Forum said; “Blaenau Gwent Heritage Forum would like to thank the Heritage Lottery Fund for providing funding for the memorial plaque. We are also extremely grateful to Aneurin Leisure and Tredegar Town Council for their invaluable support. Special thanks are also due to two local businesses, namely Gryphonn Quarry Trefil that donated the limestone block on which the plaque is mounted, and Gwent Building Supplies that both transported the stone from the quarry to the park, and provided its foundation materials free of charge.”

Anthony Hughes, Managing Director of Aneurin Leisure added; “Firstly I would like to thank Blaenau Gwent Heritage Forum for arranging this memorial to the brave men of the 3rd Mons Regiment, who sacrificed their lives in the First World War. I would also like to take the opportunity to thank the Heritage Forum for the wonderful work they do within Bedwellty House & Park, providing a programme of historical talks and activities which keeps the history of this area alive for so many people, particularly for the younger generations. Our partnership with the Forum is very important to us at Aneurin Leisure, and we hope it continues for many years to come.”