MEMBERS of the Flintshire War Memorials Project have returned to Northern France and Belgium, where they have paid moving tributes to the many men from the region who died there during the First World War.

This was the fourth time the group has organised a coach trip across the Channel, with a party of 42, including researchers, steering group members and interested supporters of the website, all making the journey.

The project, which began as a hobby for Sychdyn husband and wife team, Eifion and Viv Williams, after they decided to research the stories behind the names on their village war memorial, has grown and grown, becoming a website for the stories behind the names on all Flintshire’s First World War memorials.

After travelling by coach to Lille, in France, which was the group’s base for the extended weekend, there was a tour of the sites in and around Ypres, which included a number of cemeteries where Flintshire soldiers are buried. Each Flintshire grave was photographed for the website and a small poppy and cross were left at the foot.

The next destination was Talbot House in Poperinge, one of only two towns in Belgium not under German occupation during the conflict, which was used to billet British troops and also provided a safe area for field hospitals.

Known familiarly as ‘Pop’, it was just behind the front line and formed an important link for the soldiers and their families, especially through the rest house known as Talbot House (or ‘Toc H’), where soldiers of any rank could go for rest, tranquility and peace and get respite from the front.

“The atmosphere in the house and garden was tangible,” said Viv, who again led the visit, which progressed on to the site of The Battle of Messines, where the story of the confrontation was explained by group member Keith Ridding.

The group then visited the grave of Welsh poet Hedd Wyn, who was killed on the first day of the Battle of Passchendaele, with Roberta Roberts leading members in the singing of the Welsh national anthem.

A short Remembrance service was led by Winston Ellis at the Welsh National Memorial at Langemark, where Gill Roberts and Jennifer Walters laid the group’s wreath at the feet of the huge red dragon.

The day ended at The Menin Gate in Ypres, where the group’s wreath was laid by Keith, Andrew Moss and Claire Lewis at the famous Last Post ceremony.

On Sunday, the coach took the group to the Somme area where they peered down and walked around the astounding Lochnagar Crater and visited the preserved battle site at Beaumont Hamel, where nearly 700 men of the Newfoundland Regiment were killed or injured by German fire when they were ordered “over the top” by their officers.

“The desperate story of what happened to the proud Newfoundland Regiment on July 1, 1916 was told to us by a wonderful Canadian guide,” said Viv, who next visited the Pozieres Memorial where the names of 12 of the Flintshire men who died there were read out.

“At Delville Wood, the peaceful site, carpeted with bluebells and filled with birdsong, was a far cry from the infamous and bloody battle that took place there and the South African memorial and museum was incredible,” said Viv.

“The fierce little dragon, shaking a coil of barbed wire at Mametz Wood, is a must on these tours and the group left a Flintshire stone with some poppies mounted in it after again hearing from Keith about what had happened there to the 38th Welsh Division.”

After a busy weekend, the

group drove back to Flintshire

on Monday.

“The visit was a great success,” added Viv. “There were moments of strong emotion and tears but everyone enjoyed the weekend especially each other’s company.

“The only downside of the whole weekend, was being pulled over at customs in Dover, where all 42 bags had to come out of the hold of the coach for inspection. Our fabulous driver, Bernie of Jones Holidays Flint, wasn’t too pleased!”

l For more information on Flintshire Ware Memorials, go to: www.flintshirewarmemorials.com