大象传媒

We follow the behind-the-scenes journey of Wales' new WW1 Memorial from its inception in Wales to its final destination in Flanders. The design was created by Tenby artist Lee Odishow, before it was created in clay in April 2014, from which moulds were made.

A total of 25 bronze pieces were then cast through the lost wax process. The pieces were then assembled and welded together, and a red finish applied before it was carefully transported to Belgium.

The statue measures 8ft long and weighs 70st (450kg) and is a lasting memorial to the estimated 40,000 soldiers, sailors and airmen from Wales who died during the war.

The Welsh dragon, cast at Castle Foundry, Llanrhaeadr-ym-Mochnant, was delivered to Flanders in July 2014 and mounted on four large blocks of stone from a Pontypridd quarry. The ground on which it stands was once a battlefield where the Welsh fought and died. Today it looks out across the Flemish countryside - an unmistakable symbol of Wales.

The new Welsh memorial in Langemark near Ypres is the product of a grass roots campaign both in Wales and in Flanders.
It follows years of work by campaigners who wanted a permanent dedication to the Welsh victims of the conflict and was unveiled as over one thousand people gathered to commemorate the 100th anniversary on the 16th of August 2014.

The Welsh Memorial in Flanders Campaign Group, said: "there was no single Welsh memorial for all the Welsh fallen. We wanted to change that. The memorial artist is from Tenby, the stone is from Pontypridd and the dragon was made in Wales. Every bit of it is Welsh . People not born yet will come here to remember the dreadful history this memorial represents. We will not forget them."

Location: Castle Fine Arts Foundry - Llanrhaeadr, Llanrhaeadr ym Mochnant, Powys SY10 0AA
Image: Red Bronze Dragon in Flanders

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