The previous page gives details of those men who worked for Guest, Keen and Nettlefolds in the Dowlais Collieries at Fochriw and Bedlinog, and who died in the First World War.

I was first made aware of the existence of these plaques when viewing the Cor Meibion Dowlais website during December 2007 and my enquiries culminated in a meeting with choir member Trevor Morgan of Bedlinog who provided me a potted version of the events that led up to them being displayed in the bar at the Welsh International Climbing Centre at Trelewis.

The plaques were manufactured by GKN but were found during the 1950’s in a wall cupboard behind another cupboard in Fochriw School. It then transpired that they were taken to an electroplating company for cleaning but the person who delivered them seems to have forgotten about their existence and they were not seen for another 40 odd years, until Mr Robert Johnson, 72, was clearing out his garage. It was his father who owned the electroplating company.

The plaques, which are made of solid bronze and are each approximately four feet by two feet in size, were  in a poor condition, but the choir took it upon themselves to have the plaques cleaned  and to find them a home. However, before deciding on their current location, enquiries were made  at Fochriw but apparently, no suitable site could be found in the village to house the Fochriw Colliery plaque. However, subsequently it has been established that there is an identical set located in St Andrew’s Church, Pentwyn

Trevor and Yvonne Woods, also from Bedlinog, then organised a rededication service and concert by the Dowlais Choir on 7 November 2007.