An ambitious plan to establish a war memorial in the heart of a Monmouthshire village has been unveiled to the public.
Since 2020, the War Memorial Working Committee has spearheaded a project to secure a commemoration in Penperlleni to remember all those who made the ultimate sacrifice for the Goytre Fawr area.
Details of the memorial - a four-sided obelisk - have now been revealed to the local community, as well as to Monmouth MP David Davies and Monmouth MS Peter Fox.
Mike Jones, chairman of the War Memorial Working Committee, said: “At the commemoration of the centenary of World War I, it was recognised that the parish boundary for Goytre Fawr has changed very little since that date and there is no single war memorial in the area.
"There are memorials at St Illtyd Mamhilad, Saron Baptist Church, St Peter's Nantyderry, Capel Ed and Monkswood. But the feeling was with the decline of church attendance, we may see some of these churches closing and the memorials becoming lost.
“It was decided amongst us residents that we would form a small group to obtain a permanent war memorial for the Goytre Fawr area. I took the lead and we began our meetings back in 2020.
"A number of locations within the Goytre village area were discussed, with the preferred location being the area as you enter the village from the main road adjacent to the park. This was the site of the Silent Soldier Memorial during the commemoration period.
“Our efforts mean those who made the ultimate sacrifice will never be forgotten.”
Mr Davies said: “It was fantastic to be invited by Mike and other committee members to see with my own eyes the much hoped for war memorial.
“It was abundantly clear that significant work has gone into this project and it has my full backing.
“The war memorial will safeguard the memory and gallantry of so many from this area for many generations to come.”
Residents Richard and Tim Dowle, who take a keen interest in military history, have extensively researched the fallen named on the various locations and been able to provide a definitive list of casualties from 1914 to the present date. This data has been published in a book by Tim.
Mr Fox added: “I commend Mike and all those involved in bringing forward this excellent community concept which will allow future generations to remember all those who fought to secure our freedom.
“The thorough research which the committee has also put in to document the names of all those who made the ultimate sacrifice is remarkable.
“I will support the committee in any way I can.”
Images of sketches of the design and a site plan can be viewed at Goytre Village Hall on Newtown Road.
The next stage will now see the committee present the plan to Goetre Fawr Community Council.