National Screen and Sound Archive of Wales preserves and celebrates the sound and moving image heritage of Wales, making it accessible to a wide range of users for enjoyment and learning. Its film collection reflects every aspect of the nation’s social, cultural and working life across the 20th century, giving a fascinating insight into Welsh filmmaking, both amateur and professional.
This film is part of Free
Unveiling of 1914-1918 War Roll of Honour at Holywell, c. 1919
Flintshire lost hundreds of men on the WW1 battlefields, Holywell contributing 32 who are commemorated on the Roll of Honour plaques on the Town Hall, seen here being unveiled.
From the collection of:
Overview
Flintshire supplied hundreds of men for active service at the outbreak of WWI, men who worked in the local coal, copper and textile industries. 32 men from Holywell left but never returned and are commemorated on Roll of Honour plaques on the Town Hall which are seen here being unveiled. The man who draws off the covering Union Jacks appears to be overcome with emotion – he pauses and wipes his eyes before he can deliver his speech.
Wilfred Owen’s poem ‘Dulce Et Decorum Est’ was published in 1920, after the poet’s death in France and those passing by the Flintshire Roll of Honour may have wondered if the line by Horace, on which Owen based his poem, was indeed an “old lie”, as Owen believed. ‘Dulce et decorum est pro patria mori’ – it is sweet and fitting to die for one’s country.
Related
Watch for free
Funeral at the Front Funeral at the Front
Non-Fiction 1915 1 mins
Sombre and moving World War I newsreel story.
Watch for free
Armistice Armistice
Musical 1929 16 mins
Take your seat for an Armistice concert by military bands playing a medley of songs commonly sung during WWI.
Watch for free
Remembrance Day in Dunham Massey Remembrance Day in Dunham Massey
Amateur film 1979 3 mins Silent Location: Dunham Massey Hall
Remembrance Sunday commemorations in Cheshire.
Watch for free
Rotherham Services Procession Rotherham Services Procession
Non-Fiction 1942 9 mins Silent Location: Rotherham
This is an absorbing film of a Remembrance Day service and procession in Rotherham, unusual in being held in wartime, and made more poignant for being so.
Watch for free
Armistice Day Poppies Armistice Day Poppies
Non-Fiction 1928 0 mins
Newsreel tribute to the WWI fallen on the 10th anniversary of the war's end.
Watch for free
Preston and District Roll of Honour, 6th, 7th, 5th Series Preston and District Roll of Honour, 6th, 7th, 5th Series
Roll of Honour film 1915 14 mins Silent
A rare surviving WWI memorial film, featuring poignant images of men killed or injured serving in the armed forces.
Watch for free
Queen's Jubilee - Holywell, 1977 Queen's Jubilee - Holywell, 1977
Home movie 1977 4 mins Silent Location: Holywell/Treffynnon
“E II R Rules OK” is the red, white and blue message on a Chopper entered in the silver jubilee best-dressed bike competition in Holywell.
Watch for free
Victorian Fair - Holywell, 1984 Victorian Fair - Holywell, 1984
Home movie 1984 4 mins Silent Location: Holywell/Treffynnon
The people of Holywell become Victorian ladies and gents for a day and mind the rolling barrels!
Watch for free
Holywell streets and Bala Sailing Club Holywell streets and Bala Sailing Club
Home movie 1970 3 mins Silent Location: Holywell/Treffynnon
Wicker baskets are the main carriers of choice for most of Saturday's shoppers in Holywell, and dinghies are used for racing on Bala Lake.
Watch for free
Getting it Back: The Story of Cymande - Q&A Getting it Back: The Story of Cymande - Q&A
Inside Film 2024 22 mins
The director of a documentary about British funk pioneers Cymande joins the band at BFI Southbank to talk about the film.
Watch for free
The West Case The West Case
Action and Adventure 1923 28 mins Silent Location: Tilbury
Plotting world domination, Devil Doctor Fu-Manchu steals plans for a new aero-torpedo in this earliest surviving thrill-a-minute serial instalment.
Watch for free
Enter the Scala!!! Enter the Scala!!!
Inside Film 2024 16 mins
Filmmakers Jane Giles and Ali Catterall discuss their documentary Scala!!!, revisiting the legendary and inspirational cinema venue and some of the most notorious films that screened there.
Watch for free
Smith Smith
Charity appeal 1939 10 mins
Long thought lost, this Powell-directed promotional short for a veteran’s charity was only rediscovered in 2003.
Watch for free
An Airman's Letter to His Mother An Airman's Letter to His Mother
Documentary 1941 6 mins
A poignant, stirring letter from a recently deceased pilot to his mother is read by John Gielgud.
Watch for free
The NHS75 Celebration The NHS75 Celebration
Short documentary 2023 3 mins
Former Bristol Poet Laureate, Miles Chambers reads a poem specially commissioned for the 75th anniversary of the NHS.