Elin Jones AM, Llywydd of the National Assembly for Wales, will lead a delegation of party leaders at a Welsh National Service of Remembrance later today in Langemark, Belgium, to commemorate the 3,000 Welsh soldiers who died or were injured in the Third Battle of Ypres (Passchendaele), which began one hundred years ago today.
The service has been organised by the Welsh Government as part of Cymru’n Cofio/Wales Remembers 1914-1918. The service will take place at the Welsh Memorial in Flanders (Ypres) in Langemark.
First Minister of Wales, Carwyn Jones, will open the service alongside the Mayor of Langemark-Poelkapelle, Alain Wyffels, and Minister-President of Flanders, Geert Bourgeois.
Elin Jones AM will be joined by Andrew RT Davies AM, Leanne Wood AM and Neil Hamilton AM, who will lay a wreath on behalf of the National Assembly for Wales.
The delegation visit forms part of the National Assembly’s commemoration of the centenary of the First World War. It is also holding a series of events contributing to the Cymru’n Cofio/Wales Remembers 1914-1918 programme. One example is the Senedd hosting the Weeping Window sculpture from 8 August. The iconic installation, made up of over 10,000 ceramic poppies will adorn the front of the Senedd – the home of the National Assembly for Wales.
Elin Jones AM said:
“The Battle of Passchendaele claimed the lives of so many Welsh soldiers, and we come together to remember all those who died and were injured, so far from home. It is important that the National Assembly, the parliament which represents the people of Wales, marks an event which had such an impact on communities across the nation and remains part of our story today.
“We remember the sacrifice, and the loss that was felt following this horrific battle.”