Chris Elmore MP recently visited Bridgend Cemetery to meet with representatives from the Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC) and to learn more about their vital work in maintaining war graves and memorials.

During the visit, Chris met with Amy Kitcher, Public Engagement Coordinator, and Tim Hillsdon, a local CWGC volunteer and veteran. They toured the site and paid tribute to the 31 war casualties from both the First and Second World Wars, many of whom had local connections.

Tim, whose responsibilities include inspecting and cleaning headstones, demonstrated the cleaning process before Chris took part in cleaning the headstone of Private John Charles Podgar. A miner by trade, Private Podgar served with the 3rd Battalion Royal Welsh Fusiliers during the First World War.

Chris also visited the grave of Nurse Hannah Dunlop Mark. Born in 1895, Hannah was the fourth of nine children. Her father, Alexander Mark, served as a Highway Surveyor, and the family lived in Bridgend. Hannah served throughout the war as part of the Territorial Nursing Service. In 1918, while working at the 1st Western Military Hospital in Fazakerley, Liverpool, she contracted pneumonia following the Spanish Flu outbreak and tragically passed away at the young age of 23.

After the visit, Chris Elmore MP said, “It was an honour to visit Bridgend Cemetery to learn more about the Commonwealth War Graves Commission’s invaluable work and to pay my respects to those who made the ultimate sacrifice. The stories of Private Podgar, Nurse Mark, and so many others remind us of the significant contributions made by individuals from our local area during the First and Second World Wars. We must never forget their sacrifices, and I am grateful to the CWGC for ensuring their memories live on.”

Amy Kitcher, CWGC Public Engagement Coordinator, added, “For the Commonwealth War Graves Commission, remembrance is a year-round activity, so it is great to see parliamentarians engaging with the important work we do and connecting with the stories of the local servicemen and women buried in their communities.”

The CWGC commemorates over 100 individuals across 19 sites in the Bridgend and Porthcawl constituency, with Bridgend Cemetery having the largest number of commemorations. The visit served as a poignant reminder of the area’s historical connection to the World Wars and the ongoing work to preserve its legacy.

For more information about the Commonwealth War Graves Commission, visit www.cwgc.org.