A CEREMONY to remember the conscientious objectors during the First World War is to be held in Blaenau Ffestiniog this weekend.

Dwyfor Meirionnydd MP Liz Saville Roberts is organising the event which will remember the peace campaigners of the Great War, a century after the guns and battlefields fell silent.

The event, entitled ‘A Oes Heddwch?’ and featuring both a white ‘peace’ poppy and a red poppy on its logo, will take place six days after Remembrance Sunday.

The MP explained: “This year I am honoured to be attending the Cenotaph in London on Armistice Day to remember the fallen, and as we all take two minutes to commemorate, it is important that we hear Wales’ First World War stories which are crying out to be heard.

“I’m also pleased that I’ve been able to organise this event that will tell the stories of peace campaigners and their courage.”

The event will be held at Blaenau Ffestiniog’s Bowydd Chapel on Saturday, 17 November from 10am to 4pm. Dr Aled Eirug, a senior lecturer at Swansea University’s Morgan Academy and author of the book titled The opposition to the Great War in Wales 1914-1918 will be headlining the event.

According to Dr Eirug, the most visible sign of opposition to the First World War were the conscientious objectors who refused to join the military after conscription was introduced in January 1916.

Although 130,000 Welshmen joined up between 1916 and 1918, 900 men refused military service and became conscientious objectors (COs).

Of those 900, only 11 came from Meirionnydd, but the county was thought by the military to have been the least responsive recruiting area in Wales.

Four COs were involved in the declining slate industry in the Blaenau Ffestiniog area, there was one teacher from Blaenau, one clerk from Dolgellau, and one farmer from Llanfachreth.

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