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| World War One: Wales' fallen to be finally honoured | World War One: Wales' fallen to be finally honoured |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| About 1,000 people have gathered to see the unveiling of a a lasting monument to Welsh soldiers who died in World War One in Flanders. | |
| The cromlech built in Langemark, Belgium is marking the 100th anniversary of the war's outbreak. | The cromlech built in Langemark, Belgium is marking the 100th anniversary of the war's outbreak. |
| It comes after years of campaigning by those who wanted a permanent dedication to the fallen. | It comes after years of campaigning by those who wanted a permanent dedication to the fallen. |
| It is estimated 40,000 soldiers, sailors and airmen from Wales died during the 1914 to 1918 war. | It is estimated 40,000 soldiers, sailors and airmen from Wales died during the 1914 to 1918 war. |
| Langemark was at the heart of battle in 1917 as the Welsh advanced through the village on the first day of the Battle of Passchendaele. | Langemark was at the heart of battle in 1917 as the Welsh advanced through the village on the first day of the Battle of Passchendaele. |
| The mayor of Langemark says a small idea for a memorial to Welsh poet Hedd Wynn, turned into a major campaign to honour all the welsh fallen. | |
| The monument is made of four Welsh blue pennant stones transported from Craig yr Hesg quarry, Pontypridd, and surmounted by a red bronze dragon, designed by artist Lee Odishow. | The monument is made of four Welsh blue pennant stones transported from Craig yr Hesg quarry, Pontypridd, and surmounted by a red bronze dragon, designed by artist Lee Odishow. |
| Among those killed at Passchendaele, was the poet Hedd Wyn, who was honoured with a posthumous chair at the 2017 National Eisteddfod. | Among those killed at Passchendaele, was the poet Hedd Wyn, who was honoured with a posthumous chair at the 2017 National Eisteddfod. |
| Peter Carter Jones, co-ordinator of the Welsh Memorial in Flanders Campaign Group, said: "I feel extremely proud and gratified that this day has come about. | Peter Carter Jones, co-ordinator of the Welsh Memorial in Flanders Campaign Group, said: "I feel extremely proud and gratified that this day has come about. |
| "I have to thank a wonderful committee, the Welsh government, and the generosity of the ordinary people of Wales who have made this possible." | "I have to thank a wonderful committee, the Welsh government, and the generosity of the ordinary people of Wales who have made this possible." |
| Meurig Rees, who has travelled from Wales for the service, said: "There are memorials here in Flanders for many nations that fought in the First World War. | Meurig Rees, who has travelled from Wales for the service, said: "There are memorials here in Flanders for many nations that fought in the First World War. |
| "There's one in France for the Welsh soldiers of Memetz, but I know that the campaign has been long running and the people of Flanders here thought it was important." | "There's one in France for the Welsh soldiers of Memetz, but I know that the campaign has been long running and the people of Flanders here thought it was important." |
| Marc Decaestecker, from Belgium, added: "It means a lot to me because the Welsh in 1917, they liberated us. | Marc Decaestecker, from Belgium, added: "It means a lot to me because the Welsh in 1917, they liberated us. |
| "They fought very heavy and that's why we want to do this." | "They fought very heavy and that's why we want to do this." |
| Sian Rees, who also travelled to Belgium, said: "It's important to me because my grandfather took part in the Battle of Memetz down in the Somme... and although he came back alive I just want to honour his memory." | Sian Rees, who also travelled to Belgium, said: "It's important to me because my grandfather took part in the Battle of Memetz down in the Somme... and although he came back alive I just want to honour his memory." |
| 'Unimaginable adversity' | 'Unimaginable adversity' |
| The Welsh government backed the campaign with £25,000. | The Welsh government backed the campaign with £25,000. |
| BBC News reporter Natalie Crockett in Flanders | BBC News reporter Natalie Crockett in Flanders |
| From the outset this could be any other European town. With it's neat cobbled streets, beautiful buildings and quaint village-feel you could be forgiven for forgetting the horrors that happened in Ieper, Flanders, during the Great War. | From the outset this could be any other European town. With it's neat cobbled streets, beautiful buildings and quaint village-feel you could be forgiven for forgetting the horrors that happened in Ieper, Flanders, during the Great War. |
| But the town has not forgotten. There are museums dedicated to the Great War, plagues marking the sacrifice of the many countries which fought here, while cemeteries are dotted around the area marking the place where soldiers fell. | But the town has not forgotten. There are museums dedicated to the Great War, plagues marking the sacrifice of the many countries which fought here, while cemeteries are dotted around the area marking the place where soldiers fell. |
| In the town centre the imposing Menin Gate serves as a memorial for those whose bodies were not recovered. | In the town centre the imposing Menin Gate serves as a memorial for those whose bodies were not recovered. |
| Every night at 20:00 hundreds of people gather to hear the sounding of the Last Post. Families and veterans, locals and visitors stand silent, craning their necks to get a glimpse of the ceremony which takes place under the iconic archway, and to pay their respects. | Every night at 20:00 hundreds of people gather to hear the sounding of the Last Post. Families and veterans, locals and visitors stand silent, craning their necks to get a glimpse of the ceremony which takes place under the iconic archway, and to pay their respects. |
| First Minister Carwyn Jones is attending the service. | |
| Speaking ahead of his visit, Mr Jones said: "It is timely that we should be unveiling this memorial now, as a mark of respect and remembrance for all those from Wales who faced unimaginable adversity here. | Speaking ahead of his visit, Mr Jones said: "It is timely that we should be unveiling this memorial now, as a mark of respect and remembrance for all those from Wales who faced unimaginable adversity here. |
| "The sacrifices they made and the freedom for which they strived for is why we must continue to pay tribute today. | "The sacrifices they made and the freedom for which they strived for is why we must continue to pay tribute today. |
| "I congratulate all involved in this very important campaign. This impressive monument is testament to the enduring need to continue to strive for peace in our own time." | "I congratulate all involved in this very important campaign. This impressive monument is testament to the enduring need to continue to strive for peace in our own time." |
| Falklands veteran Simon Weston said it was "very humbling" to be taking part in the ceremony. | Falklands veteran Simon Weston said it was "very humbling" to be taking part in the ceremony. |
| "This is the first memorial for the Welsh servicemen who died and it is hugely significant that we are recognising them and their history. | "This is the first memorial for the Welsh servicemen who died and it is hugely significant that we are recognising them and their history. |
| "This is a moment in time we can show our appreciations and gratitude for people who served in that terrible time." | "This is a moment in time we can show our appreciations and gratitude for people who served in that terrible time." |