Ahead of attending a service in Llandaf Cathedral to commemorate the start of the 100th anniversary of the outbreak of the First World War, Party of Wales leader Leanne Wood spoke of the necessity to remember and learn from the horrific loss of life that took place a century ago.
Ms Wood AM said: “One hundred years ago the world saw the beginning of a war that would claim lives on an unimaginable scale. Of those who survived, many were left irrevocably scarred; physically and/or mentally.
“The events of August 1914 started a period of death and suffering on a scale never seen before.
“The mistakes that led to this conflict engulfing much of Europe must be learned and remembered.
“The best way to do that is to commit today to use all avenues and means available to seek peaceful instead of violent ways to resolve conflict.
“The words of soldier Harry Patch and soldier / poet Hedd Wyn best sum up my sentiments on the century anniversary of the start of the war that was meant to ‘end all wars’.
“Mr Patch, the UK’s last surviving solider from World War One, said in 2007 ‘I’ve never got over it. You never forget it. Never.’ He also said ‘It wasn’t worth it. No war is worth it. No war is worth the loss of a couple of lives let alone thousands.’
“During Eisteddfod week, we also remember the words of Welsh poet and Eisteddfod winner Hedd Wyn. From his poem War:
‘The harps to which we sang are hung,
On willow boughs, and their refrain is
Drowned by the anguish of the young
Whose blood is mingled with the rain.’
