Anglesey War Memorials, A Poet's Response

Alix Warren of Bull Bay, Amlwch manages to capture the selfless sense of duty and depth of sacrifice of the many who fell in the two World Wars and in other theatres.

This is a fine collection of poems written after much reflection and which speak of the futility of war in all its guises.

From the town of Holyhead to Llanfechell and Cemaes in the north west of Anglesey, to the war memorials in Llanfairpwll and Benllech on the east side of the island, Alix Warren conveys the sense of loss to the community in a straightforward and human way.

And how often do local schoolchildren get the opportunity to show their understanding and appreciation of the ultimate sacrifice made by these very brave people for the nation?

It seems that with each passing year the war memorials are left to deteriorate further and the memory of the bravery and duty fades into distant memory.

This is the challenge we face as a society, to nurture in our children a respect for and understanding of the sacrifice made by these brave people, together with a realisation that peace in the world is a goal worth striving for, and that they can play a part in that outcome.

We hope you enjoy the collection of war memorial poems by Alix Warren shown below, and if you would like to share your poem or article or reflection, please use the form below.

Alix Warren was brought up in Sheffield and moved to Anglesey in 1979. She is a graduate of Bangor University with a degree in English Literature and Creative Writing.

She is currently studying for an MA in Creative Writing. She is married with four grown-up children, two step-children and six assorted grand-children.

Alix would like as many people as possible to see her work and ultimately have her work published.

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What Other Visitors Have Said

Llanfechell Local War Heroes Remembered
As you leave Cemaes take the second turning and follow the road to Llanfechell. This village is as pretty as a Welsh village can ever be.

Tiny cottages,...

Holyhead Memorial To Fallen War Heroes
Holyhead's war memorial is a fine monument placed at the bottom of the High Street.

You cannot fail to see the tower as you drive into the centre of ...

Tribute To Gwalchmai War Heroes
Drive slowly through the village of Gwalchmai and on your right the mighty stone built clock tower stands.

Four clock faces all keeping time.

A long ...

Penysarn War Memorial Poem
PENYSARN

Now if you follow the A5025 out of Amlwch towards Bangor, and just before the road turns left down into Penysarn you'll see a beautifully carved ...

UPVC Windows, Amlwch War Memorial Poem
An Anglesey Poet on the War Memorial in the small village of Amlwch on the north east coast of the island.

We shall start behind the library in Amlwch....

Benllech War Memorial Poem
As you continue around the coastal road, the silver sea flashes to your left, Puffin Island floats beyond the Penmon lighthouse and the Great Orme frames ...

An Island Standing Stone Not rated yet
I am a standing stone
Grit-granite grey
solid embedded rooted
in the accommodating earth.

I stand defiant of the roars
of the Dragon breath winds,...

Mrs Jones, Llaneilian Rectory Not rated yet
Mrs Jones lived in the old rectory in Llaneilian from 1941 until around 1998. This is a poem about her in the days when she was my neighbour.

Mrs ...

Time Runs Out In Rhosybol Not rated yet
Follow the signs for Rhosybol across the fields and between wind turbines standing idly by. The Rhosybol clock memorial stands in front of the village ...

Poem To Forgotten Cemaes Heroes Not rated yet
On again to Cemaes Bay, along the A5025 north easterly from Llanrhyddlad.

Do not follow the bye-pass but drive slowly into the village, taking the ...

Poem To Llanrhyddlad War Heroes Not rated yet
Turn round and drive back onto the A5025 and turn left in the Anglesey village of Llanrhyddlad.

The memorial with its soldier leaning on his rifle ...

Bodedern War Memorial Poem Remembers Heroes Not rated yet
The men of Bodedern on Anglesey are honoured on the village hall at the end of the high street.

Painted blue, the hall gives off a bright clean air ...

Rhosneigr Clock Tower Remembers War Heroes Not rated yet
This memorial stands in the very centre of Rhosneigr village. Four roads intersect here.

One takes you down to the sea and the curving beach, one leads ...

Gaerwen Mounment To War Heroes Not rated yet
The villages are quieter now since the completion of the A55 across Anglesey.

It is so much easier to cross the once, busy road, now the lorries that ...

Poem To Llanfairpwll Fallen Heroes Not rated yet
LLANFAIRPWLLGWYNGYLLGOGERYCHWYRN
DROBWLLLLANTYSILIOGOGOCH

From Menai Bridge it is only a short journey down the old A5 to Llanfairpwllgwyngyll. The ...

Beaumaris War Memorial, Near The Town Church Not rated yet
The monument to the men and boys of Beaumaris stands in front of the town church. Another Celtic cross, but this time so elegantly tall, it seems to be ...

Pentraeth War Memorial Poem Not rated yet
On again towards Bangor, and past a couple of garden centres. As you start to climb up the hill into Pentraeth you'll come to the cross-roads.

You ...

Menai Bridge War Memorial Poem Not rated yet
The memorial for the dead of Menai Bridge stands on the little church island off the Belgian walk.

Walk down from the car park behind the Jade Village,...

Moelfre War Memorial Poem Not rated yet
On arriving in the charming fishing village of Moelfre on the east Anglesey coast, you need to drive down to the car-park by the sea and, unless you turn ...

Brynrefail War Memorial Poem Not rated yet
Driving eastwards from Amlwch on Anglesey along the A5025 you could completely miss this little memorial in Brynrefail (or City Dulas). The plain concrete ...

Anglesey War Memorials, A Poetry Selection

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