"The period from 1914 to 1918, and the immediate aftermath, shaped the Wales we live in now and we need to understand not only why nations went to war but also the lingering impact of that war on our daily lives." Carwyn Jones, First Minister of Wales, 2014
War's Hell: The Welsh at the Battle of Mametz Wood, 1916 - National Museum of Wales
Over 700,000 British servicemen died in the field of battle in the First World War and it has been estimated that around 3 million people across Britain lost a close relative. WW1 was an unforeseen disaster that followed a period of increasing rivalry and mistrust between nations. While its most deeply-felt impact was the loss of human life, it had other far-reaching effects; it altered the balance of power in the world with the fall of great European empires and a shift of economic power to the United States. Within Britain, there were significant political changes and the role of the state became more prominent in the lives of individual citizens.
The war left the countries that took part in it impoverished. At the end of the war Germany was near starvation, while Britain was almost bankrupt. In some countries extreme political movements gained power, and a flawed post-WW1 'Peace Process' laid the seeds not only for the Second World War just over twenty years later, but most of the conflicts that defined the 20th Century. The sheer scale of the WW1 conflict and its enormous consequences makes it vitally important that, during the centennial period, we try to understand the causes and impact of the First World War and reflect on the great sacrifices made by individuals and communities, to learn how such conflicts may best be avoided in future.
Wales for Peace are involved with Cymru'n Cofio / Wales Remembers 1914-18, the Welsh Government-supported Framework Programme for the centenary commemoration period from 2014-19. WCIA's Wales for Peace contributions are included the annual programmes here for 2017, 2016, 2015 and 2014. For further sources of information about the commemoration click here, and you can view projects here supported through Cymru'n Cofio.
In the early 1920s, following a campaign in the Western Mail, public monies were raised to build a 
Throughout 2016, the Welsh National Book of Remembrance for the First World War has visited numerous venues and has been at the heart of our community activities across Wales - reuniting the names of the fallen with their communities of life, their descendants, and enabling volunteers to research the stories and the faces behind the names (see below), as well as to support WCIA with transcription of the 35,000 names from the book.
Working closely with 
As with recent conflicts such as Afghanistan, Iraq and Syria, through WW1 people held a wide diversity of views as to whether we should be pursuing war. Whilst many men in particular signed up to go to the front, many were in 'reserved occupations' critical to the economy - such as farming.
The Red Poppy is well known as a remembrance symbol in the UK, for British military personnel fallen and living. Less well known is its origins as the idea of an American teacher in 1918, Moina Belle Michael, who conceived the silk poppy as a blood red symbol. “I pledged to keep the faith, and always to wear a red poppy of Flanders Field as a sign of remembrance.“ Moina Belle Michael.
Throughout Autumn 2016, alongside the visit of 
The 
