ARMED forces veterans, politicians and the public gathered together in Pontypool to pay tribute to soldiers who died in the First World War.

On Sunday, May 7, a service was held outside Pontypool Park’s War Memorial gates in honour of the Monmouthshire Regiment, Second Battalion.

Politicians and members of various veteran associations lined the streets at the service, paying tribute to the Territorial Force unit which had its HQ in Osbourne Road, Pontypool.

The 2nd Mons were part of the Welsh Border Infantry Brigade, Welsh Division, and were made up of men from Abercarn, Blaenavon, Crumlin, Cwmbran, Llanhilleth, Monmouth and Usk.

They were also the first territorial army battalion to go into the trenches in 1914 and fought in the infamous Second Battle of Ypres.

The service was led by Colonel Van Rees, along with Rev Canon Brian Pippin of St Cadoc’s Church and paid “particular tribute” to those who lost their lives in the Battle of Frezenberg Ridge on May 8, 1915. The conflict is notorious for being the first time that poisonous gas was used by the German army on the western front, with 526 soldiers being killed.

The event was attended by members of the Royal Welsh Pontypool Branch from Cwmbran, with standard bearers from Blaenavon and Abertillery’s Royal British Legion Branches, the Royal Regiment of Wales, the Veterans Association Pontypool Branch and the Comrades of the Great War.