The double memorial gates & pedestrian side gate, were erected in 1925 as the gateway to the Workmen's Cottage Hospital. The Hospital has long gone, so the gates now front a small memorial garden. The gates are a listed & protected structure, due to their social & historic interest.
The cast iron gates carry the main inscription in two elliptical panels surrounded by gilded laurel wreaths, with the text "IN GLORIOUS MEMORY OF THOSE WHO FELL IN THE GREAT WAR - 1914-1918"
The Aberbargoed War Memorial is notable for its link with one of the most intriguing episodes of the Second World War. The pedestrian side gate features a brass plaque at its center stating; "The Man Who Never Was"
The News article from NewsOnline is reproduced in full below: (
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"A WAR memorial was restored to its prime in preparation for Remembrance Day.
The memorial in Aberbargoed underwent a mass community clean-up as the town prepares for commemorations and services on November 11.
South Wales-based painting and maintenance company Seddon Property Services worked alongside the Royal British Legion and Caerphilly Borough Council on the project.
A new “garden of remembrance” was also created as part of work carried out this week.
The Aberbargoed War Memorial is notable for its link with one of the most intriguing episodes of the Second World War.
The Memorial gates bear a plaque commemorating Glyndwr Michael who has been identified as The Man Who Never Was – a figure who played a decisive part in the conflict, after his own death.
The homeless Welshman’s corpse, disguised as a Royal Marines officer, was released into the Mediterranean with a briefcase containing documents which successfully tricked the Germans into believing that the Allies planned to attack Greece in the summer of 1943 and not Italy, the real target.
A memorial plaque to Michael was erected on the War Memorial gates by the Royal British Legion in 2002.
On Monday, while volunteers spruced their town, pupils from Aberbargoed Primary, Ysgol Bro Sannan and St Gwladys Primary planted a special peace rose in the new memorial garden.
Seddon Property Services, along with a number of other community-based partners are currently upgrading the Memorial’s landmark gates and plaques, installing flagpoles, constructing a new wall and flowerbed and cleaning the surrounding walls and pathways.
Len Baldwin, area manager for Seddon, said: “As a company that does a lot of work in the area, helping out with community projects is very important to us.
“The Aberbargoed War Memorial is a key landmark in the heart of the town with huge significance because of what it represents.”
As part of the Memorial restoration, Len has organised visits to the schools with local veterans.
He added: “Getting the young people involved and helping them appreciate the significance of Remembrance Day and why we mark it has been a particularly rewarding aspect of the project.
“It’s been an honour for our team to help restore it and create the new garden of remembrance working with the council and the community.”
Following the recent closure of Aberbargoed Hospital, Caerphilly Council won ownership of the war memorial.
The upgrade works have, in part, been made possible through money invested from a recently awarded council contract.
Councillor Lyn Ackerman, cabinet member for public services, added: “These improvement works will help ensure this key landmark is accessible to members of the community for many years to come.” Text Source" (
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Description; from the Imperial War Museum database;
"DOUBLE VEHICLE GATE AND ADJACENT SINGLE PEDESTRIAN GATE. NAMES APPEAR ON EACH OF THE THREE POSTS, WITH MAIN INSCRIPTION ON THE GATES THEMSELVES WREATH AT THE TOP OF EACH POST; OVAL GILDED PANELS ON VEHICLE GATES WITH INSCRIPTION. ADDITIONAL PANEL TO "THE MAN WHO NEVER WAS" ADDED IN NOVEMBER 1997.
Inscription;
IN GLORIOUS MEMORY OF THOSE/ WHO FELL IN THE GREAT WAR/ 1914-1918/ ROLL OF HONOUR/(NAMES) (ADDITIONAL PLAQUE): "Y DYN NA FU ERIOED"/ I GYDNABOD GWASANAETHAU/ I'R/ YMDRECH RHYFEL GYNGHREIRIOL/ GAN/ GLYNDWR MICHAEL/ O ABERBARGOED/ 4 CHWEFROR 1909 - 24 EBRILL 1943/ "THE MAN WHO NEVER WAS"/ IN RECOGNITION OF SERVICES/ TO THE ALLIED WAR EFFORT/ BY/ GLYNDWR MICHAEL/ OF ABERBARGOED/ 4 FEBRUARY 1909 - 24 APRIL 1943" Text Source; (
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THE MAN WHO NEVER WAS;
The Memorial gates also feature a plaque commemorating Glyndwr Michael who has been identified as The Man Who Never Was – a figure who played a decisive part in WWII, after his death.
A memorial plaque to Michael was erected on the War Memorial gates by the Royal British Legion in 2002.
For the full story, see my Waymark;
The Man Who Never Was - Aberbargoed - Wales; (
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