Wales, World War I Book of Remembrance, 1914-1918

General collection information

This collection provides information derived from the Welsh National Book of Remembrance for the First World War. The book serves as a memorial to the 35,000 Welsh citizens who died in the war between 1914 and 1918. This collection contains indexes only and doesn't include images of the original document.

Using this collection

Records in this collection may include the following information:

Collection in context

The Book of Remembrance was created by calligrapher Graily Hewitt at his workshop in London, England, during the 1920s. The 1,100-page book is held in a specially constructed vault underground at the Temple of Peace in Cardiff.

During the early 1920s, the Western Mail newspaper started a campaign to build a Welsh National War Memorial. The design of the memorial didn't include names, but the memorial committee authorised a soldiers' honour roll. In addition to being a memorial to the men and women who died during the First World War, the book is considered a work of art. Chapter headings are adorned with gilding and each name is written in calligraphy with ornate borders in bright colours separating the columns of names. When the war memorial in Cardiff's Cathays Park was dedicated in June 1928, the Book of Remembrance was signed by Edward, Prince of Wales.

Bibliography

The National Library of Wales. "The Welsh National Book of Remembrance." Accessed September 16, 2022. https://www.library.wales/discover/digital-gallery/manuscripts/modern-period/the-welsh-national-book-of-remembrance#?c=&m=&s=&cv=&xywh=-1652%2C0%2C8134%2C7179.