First memorial for town's fallen

The names have been inscribed on the Bargoed war memorial

Soldiers from a south Wales town who died in the two world wars have been honoured by name for the first time in an Armistice Day ceremony on Friday.

Bargoed's war memorial, which has been blank since it was built over 80 years ago, was inscribed on Monday with the names of local men who died fighting.

The churchyard monument was re-dedicated in a ceremony organised by the Royal British Legion.

Thousands of veterans were taking part in Armistice Day events across Wales.

The traditional two-minute silence for those killed in war was held at 1100 GMT on Friday.

Other commemorations around Wales included ceremonies at the war memorials in Cathays Park, Cardiff, and at the Cenotaph in Swansea.

Armistice day ceremonies are taking place around Wales

Pupils at Hawarden High School in Flintshire were staging a concert for veterans across north Wales to mark the 60th anniversary of the end of World War Two.

The Duke of York is also due to attend the annual dinner of the United Services Mess in Cardiff.

In Bargoed, the 163 names of the town's war dead was unveiled by Caerphilly MP Wayne David, and AM Jeff Cuthbert in a ceremony at St Gwladys Church.

The vicar, Rev Andrew Bookless, said the community had wanted the names added to the memorial for many years.

Names researched

He told the BBC News website: "It's important to the families of those who lost loved ones to have the names actually inscribed and individuals acknowledged."

Rev Bookless led the service, which was also attended by representatives from other churches in the area.

The names of the soldiers on the monument - 133 from Bargoed and 30 from Gilfach - were researched by Ray Thompson, secretary of Bargoed's Royal British Legion.

Mr Thompson estimated it took him 60 hours' work to find the names from the Commonwealth War Graves Commission website.

He said the project had been made possible after funding from the Communities First Trust Fund scheme funded by the Welsh Assembly Government.

"The memorial was put up in 1923. It was a case of them never getting round to getting the money - but this time we got it," he said.

The monument was originally built in the centre of Bargoed, but was later moved to the park. It was recently moved again to the churchyard after being vandalised.