A VILLAGE has rallied together to raise £10,000 to restore its “handsome and massive” memorial cross.

The monument which is in the centre of Bwlch was erected at a cost of more than £200 in 1921 and unveiled at a special ceremony by Lord Glanusk.

A re-dedication ceremony is being held in Bwlch this Sunday, November 19, which will also mark the centenary of the deaths of two of the men killed in action. Their names are among 16 inscribed on the memorial and organisers are expecting some surviving relatives to attend the event.

Dame Shan Legge-Bourke, the Lord Lieutenant of Powys and the granddaughter of Lord Glanusk, is also attending the service.

Peter Harrison, the owner of the Star Bunkhouse in Bwlch, said: “We are expecting a big turnout from the village and the surrounding area.

“We will also have a small service and some cadets from Crickhowell will lay wreaths for each of the 16 names on the memorial.

“Dame Shan will then say some words before the playing of the Last Post.”

Private Cyril John Powell, who was born in Cwmdu and enlisted in Brecon, was killed on November 30, 1917. He was a resident of Bwlch and served with the London Regiment known as the Prince of Wales’ Own Civil Service Rifles.

Also named on the memorial is Corporal Roy James Oldcorn who was killed in action on November 23, 1917. The 27-year-old, from Flintshire, was serving with the Royal Irish Rifles.

A newspaper report of the original unveiling, in March 1921, said: “In the presence of a large number of people, whose reverential attitude showed that they were deeply moved by the significance of the occasion, a handsome and massive memorial cross erected at Bwlch in commemoration of 15 former inhabitants of the district who made the supreme sacrifice in the great war, was on Sunday afternoon last unveiled by Mrs Gwynne Holford, CBE and dedicated by the Rev D H Picton, rector of Cathedine.”

Of the monument the report said: “The cross, which occupies a commanding site at the junction of three roads, is of the familiar Celtic wheel design, and is remarkable for its simple dignity and massive proportions. It stands nearly 18 feet high, and is of yellowish tint.”

However as one of those three roads in the busy A40 trunk road, from Brecon to Crickhowell, the cross has not only sustained damage from vehicles but had lost its colour amid the accumulation of traffic pollution, grime and time.

Mr Harrison, who is also a Major in the Army Reserve based at the Barracks in Brecon, said local people were determined to restore the memorial.

“The money to pay for it at the time was raised by local people doing things like local shows, dances and public fundraisers.

“As we had to raise the money to get it cleaned we held similar fundraising events.”

The restoration has been supported by Cwmdu and District Community Council, the Bwlch Village Hall Committee, the local Women’s Institute and local businesses including the New Inn pub, the Star Bunk House and the Welsh Venison Centre.

“Local businesses put the five pence carrier bag tax towards the fund and Janet Rye, who happens to be my mother-in-law, produced hessian bags for life, which sold for £10, with a photograph of the war memorial on and a poppy.

“People have really supported it and were putting in more than five pence for a carrier bag, they were putting in five pound notes, and lots of money and the pub ran lots of quizzes with all the money raised going towards the appeal.”

The 52-year-old, who has himself seen active service in the Balkans and Iraq, said: “The village has all pulled together to restore the memorial to its former glory.

“In the article from the original unveiling it reports that in his speech Lord Glanusk, it said the memorial is standing there for everybody to see and for future generations to see it and so they don’t forget.”

Major Bob Doak, of Cwmdu Community Council, said as well as Dame Shan Sunday’s event is expected to be attended by Brecon and Radnorshire MP Chris Davies, Powys council leader Rosemarie Harris and local councillor Kathryn Silk with part of the service being taken by Major General Reverend Morgan Llewellyn, of the Royal Welsh Fusiliers, a former commanding officer of the Army in Wales.

Sunday’s service, at the cross, which is open to all members of the public, is due to start at 11am but organisers are asking people to arrive no later than 10.30am due to find parking spaces.