Heritage Lottery Fund has awarded £9,900 to the Royal Welsh Comrades Association (Newport Branch) for Newport Remembers. Awarded through HLF’s First World War: then and now programme, the project will focus on commemorating the centenary of the 8^th May 1915.

On this day 85 servicemen from the Monmouthshire Regiment lost their lives at the battle of Frezenberg Ridge during the second battle of Yypres.

To mark the centenary of the 8^th May, the project will enable local people in Newport to discover the significance of the event, the effects that WW1 had on the city and the stories behind the men involved. Project volunteers will develop digital skills such as podcasting, blogging and oral history.

The information gathered will be digitally recorded and an on-line archive will be created where everyone can access and contribute information. The archive will allow the public to contribute family stories, discuss and contribute information about the effect that the First World War had on the people of Newport.

A memorial and eight May trees situated next to the river Usk on the Wales Coastal Path will stand in everlasting memory of those men thanks to the fundraising efforts of Cllr Charles Ferris and the Royal Welsh Comrades Association (Newport Branch).

Commenting on the award, Shelley McGuire, Volunteer Liaison Officer for Newport Remembers said “We are thrilled to have received the support of the Heritage Lottery Fund. For years such an important event in Newport’s history has gone by without recognition. At least 85 servicemen from Newport lost their lives during the battle of Frezenberg Ridge. It was the highest loss of life in a single day that Newport suffered.  We are overwhelmed by the generosity of local businesses and individuals who have made donations towards the memorial. This project will honour those fallen men and look at how Newport was affected by the war.”To support this project, please visit www.facebook.com/ww1memorial    or Twitter @ww1newport

Explaining the importance of project, the head of the HLF in Wales, Jennifer Stewart said “The impact of the First World War was far reaching, shaping every corner of the UK and beyond.  With this funding, we are enabling more communities to explore the continuing legacy of this conflict and share their findings to help other local people understand how it shaped our modern world.”