Rhondda Cynon Taf Council is proud to announce the creation of a new war memorial in Treorchy, dedicated to the brave men and women of the local area who served in World War One, World War Two, and all other conflicts. This initiative is part of the Council’s ongoing commitment to honouring the sacrifices of our Armed Forces community.
The memorial, supported by local Treorchy Councillors Bob Harris and Sera Evans, will be constructed using stone rescued from a former secondary school in Hawthorn, reflecting the traditional materials that would have been used during wartime. The monument will feature four inscribed plaques, including a historic plaque rescued from a chapel on the Parc and Dare site. The location for the memorial will be outside the Parc and Dare Theatre.
Councillor Maureen Webber BEM, Deputy Leader of Rhondda Cynon Taf Council and Armed Forces Champion said: “I am proud to see our Council taking such meaningful steps to honour our servicemen and women. This memorial not only commemorates their sacrifices but also strengthens the bond between our civilian community and the Armed Forces.
“The use of historically significant materials and the inclusion of digital elements further reflects our commitment to preserving and sharing these important stories.
“I look forward to seeing the community come together to support this fantastic project.”
In addition to the new Memorial, the Council plans to create a Treorchy Remembrance / Roll of Honour book listing the names of those who sacrificed their lives. This book will be stored at Treorchy Library, available for public use on request, and included in our War Memorials Digitisation Project.
The Council wishes to consult with the public to discuss the memorial and ensure all names are included in the Roll of Honour book. The Council’s Armed Forces and Heritage Service officers will be holding an engagement day at Treorchy Library on March 13, 10am to 6pm. The local community is invited to attend and chat with us – we’d love to hear your thoughts about the memorial or learn of any names that need to be included in the Remembrance book.
Councillor Bob Harris, Cabinet Member for Public Health and Communities and Local Councillor for Treorchy, said: “I am pleased to say that a new memorial will be created in dedication to the people of Treorchy who so bravely sacrificed everything for our future. This memorial is deeply significant to the community in Treorchy and will stand as a tribute to their ancestors.
“As the local Councillor for Treorchy, I am proud to support this initiative to ensure the names and memories of those fallen are preserved for future generations. I encourage all people from the local community to get involved in the project to ensure we create a comprehensive Roll of Honour in their memory.”
Rhondda Cynon Taf Council is proud to be one of the first local authorities in Wales to have signed The Covenant that serves as a voluntary declaration of mutual support between the civilian community of Rhondda Cynon Taf and the Armed Forces Community residing within the County Borough. It symbolises the dual respect shared among the Council, its partner agencies, local communities, and our esteemed Armed Forces Personnel—both those currently serving and those who have retired—along with their families.
The creation of this new memorial aligns with the Council’s commitment to a 5-year, £200,000 programme of investment from 2022-2027 – to which Cabinet has recently agreed an additional £50,000 investment. Led by the Council’s Heritage and Ancient Monuments Officer, this pioneering initiative is the first of its kind and scale in the UK and aims to improve War Memorials across Rhondda Cynon Taf through digitalisation.
With the assistance of volunteers from the local community and schools, research has been undertaken into the lives of thousands of individuals listed across the memorials. This information will be made available via QR codes placed at each memorial, linking a new Heritage website where visitors can learn about the personal stories behind the names.
If you have any further questions or would like to find out more, please contact: ArmedForces@rctcbc.gov.uk
Posted on 27/02/2025