The Aftermath: Remembering the Great War in Wales - Softcover

Gaffney, Angela

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0708316808 ISBN 13: 9780708316801

Publisher: University of Wales Press, 2000

Synopsis

More than 700,000 British servicemen died in the First World War and 35,000 of these are listed in the Welsh Book of Remembrance. Loss of life on such an immense scale meant that bereavement became a shared experience throughout Britain as individuals and communities attempted to come to terms with their grief. The war memorials found in almost every town and village bear witness to the need felt in the post-war years to commemorate the dead. These memorials have already been studied as repositories of political ideas and as works of art and public sculpture, but little work has been done on the social history of commemoration. 

This book provides the first comprehensive examination of the social and political significance of remembrance in Wales. It places the commemoration process within the wider context of Welsh history in the decade following the Great War, and studies the impact of that war upon local communities and the ways in which those communities chose to remember the fallen. 
`Here is a fine study illustrating the enduring place of local loyalties in the identities of the men who went to war in 1914 and of those who survived the war. (English Historical Review)

About this title

About the Author

Angela Gaffney is a native of Bath. She was an undergraduate in the School of History, University of Wales, Cardiff from 1989 to 1992 and a postgraduate there until 1996, when she was awarded a doctorate for the research upon which this book is based. She is currently Research Fellow at the Centre for Advanced Welsh and Celtic Studies, University of Wales.

Review

“. . . meticulously researched study.” –War in History (War in History)

“She has written an important book about Wales at a watershed in its history and, as the Great War fades beyond living memory, it will help us to recall the carnage and bungled idealism of it all.” –Western Mail

(Western Mail)

“For those members interested in war memorials (aren’t we all?), this book is a ‘must have’ . . . Angela’s analysis of that single photograph demonstrates her depth of feeling for the subject of remembrance and is a lesson in the interpretation of photographs and the huge amount of information that can be obtained from photographs of social events . . . the quality of the information which it contains makes it well worth the price.” –The Western Front Association Bulletin

(The Western Front Association Bulletin)

“ . . . offers much more than a straightforward history of war memorials in Wales, Angela Gaffney’s fascinating account focuses on people’s will to remember their dead as they argued and co-operated, cajoled and compromised in the erecting and unveiling of their chosen memorials. In this cogently written social and political history of commemoration, we are reminded that the process of commemorating, as with so many other human experiences, is a selective one . . . one is impressed by the wealth of sources both contemporary and primary that she has drawn upon.” –Planet

(Planet)

“ . . . excellent and erudite book . . . Gaffney has produced a book of incredible detail, almost overwhelmingly so for the casual reader, but she has brought out the personal stories of loss which transcend a book of simple “history”. This is an essential addition to the record of Wales in the aftermath of the Great War.” –New Welsh Review

(New Welsh Review)

“The book will be of interest to the ever-increasing numbers who now show interest in this memorable and tragic period in our history, and in particular local historians. A must for all Welsh museum libraries.” –Journal of the Royal Regiment of Wales

(Journal of the Royal Regiment of Wales)

“This is a scholarly book, based on historical records, which will be of interest to those living in Wales and could encourage people elsewhere to research their own war memorials.” –Wilfred Owen Assoc. Newsletter

(Wilfred Owen Assoc. Newsletter)

“The author is to be congratulated on giving us such a valuable and readable insight into the decisions made at the time concerning memorialisation; long may the resulting memorials be held in honour and respect.” –Stand To! The Journal of the Western Front Association

(Stand To! The Journal of the Western Front Association)

“Here is a fine study illustrating the enduring place of local loyalties in the identities of the men who went to war in 1914 and of those who survived the war.” –English Historical Review

(English Historical Review)

“ . . . a successful book . . ” –Twentieth Century British History

(Twentieth Century British History)

About this edition

• Publisher: University of Wales Press
• Publication date: 2000
• ISBN 10: 0708316808
• ISBN 13: 9780708316801
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 194