Offenders' tribute to war heroes
Offenders have transformed the graves of almost 500 Welsh war heroes and planted many with wooden crosses in the run up to Remembrance Sunday.
Teams of offenders carrying out unpaid work as part of the Community Payback scheme have spent the summer cutting back the grass and cleaning and repairing graves with the blessing of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission.
And in recent days they have returned to plant 120 of the graves with wooden crosses ahead of Remembrance Sunday. The work has had a powerful effect on some of the offenders who are the same age as many of the fallen.
The project began when David Bidgood, Community Punishment Officer with the Wales Community Rehabilitation Company, part of the probation service, noticed the poor condition of a headstone on a World War One grave in a Torfaen churchyard.
He said: “I thought it was a terrible shame to see it looking so bad after such a sacrifice by someone of just 19, so I wrote to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission who sent a team to replace the headstone.
“Following that I was able to gain a project agreement with the commission in 2008 to provide a work team to maintain the upkeep of war graves by grass cutting each year. The commission donated two brush cutters to help us in our work.
“Under the guidance of our projects officer Mike Mogford and Community Payback supervisor Graham Russell we currently care for 480 graves across Blaenau Gwent, Monmouthshire, Torfaen, Newport and Caerphilly. The work includes cutting of grass in and around the grave, washing the headstones and replacing damaged or worn headstones in conjunction with the commission.
“The team takes great pride in supporting this worthy cause, and see it as the least they can do for those who gave their lives for us. Most of our offenders are in the 18 to 25-year-old category and it is very sobering for them to see how young soldiers and airmen died at the same age as them.”
Since the scheme was set up the Community Payback teams have completed more than 24,000 hours of unpaid work maintaining the graves.
“The feedback from offenders has always been positive and a number feel quite humble from undertaking this work,” said David.
One of the offenders working at Holy Trinity churchyard in Pontnewydd said: “When I saw the graves of two brothers, both of them pilots, who had died at the ages of 20 and 22 in World War II, it brought tears to my eyes.
“It’s given me more respect for the Forces and made me realise that very young men died for this country. It also made me think about whether anyone will be caring about my grave after my death and that made me think about the reality of crime and how I want to stay away from it in future.”
Another of the team said: “By cleaning the graves we are showing respect for the people who died for this country. Some of the headstones were covered in brambles but now they look as good as new. That makes me feel proud.
“This proves that by doing Community Payback something good can come out of something bad.”
Their supervisor Craig Phillips said: “I’m really proud of the lads, they have really knuckled down and done a great job.”