08/11/2026
On this Remembrance Sunday, we pause at Gwrych Castle to honour those who lost their lives in war, those who served, and the families and communities whose lives were changed forever.
Among those we remember is Lieutenant Colonel the Hon. Ralph Gerard Alexander Hamilton, Master of Belhaven. Ralph married Lady Grizel, daughter of Winifred, Countess of Dundonald, in 1904. Grizel had grown up at Gwrych Castle, making his story a deeply personal part of the castle’s history.
Born in 1883 and educated at Eton and Sandhurst, Ralph was commanding the Essex Horse Artillery when the First World War began. Determined to serve overseas, he secured an appointment as an interpreter with the 7th Division and took part in the First Battle of Ypres. In October 1914, a shell blast threw him from his horse, and he was sent back to England to recover.
He returned to the fighting and went on to command an artillery battery, serving through battles at Ypres, Loos, the Somme and Messines. On 31st March 1918, he was killed near Amiens, aged just 35. He lies buried in Rouvrel Communal Cemetery in France.
His detailed wartime diary ends with a copy of a letter to Grizel, written just two days before his death. In it, he asked her to send everyday personal belongings, explaining, “I have lost everything I possess.” These simple words remind us of the individual lives, relationships and hopes behind every name we commemorate.
Remembrance has also brought our community together through the handmade poppy cascade, Hope, Remembrance and Respect. Created by dedicated volunteers, the cascade measured more than 100 feet long, with handmade poppies contributed from as far away as Australia. Each flower was individually knitted and then crocheted into the display.
Led by Bev Baker, a founder trustee of Gwrych Castle Preservation Trust, and supported by the British Legion, the project was created in 2021 for display at St Michael’s Church in Abergele before coming to Gwrych Castle. It carried a message for future generations: to understand our shared history, remember those who suffered, and recognise the importance of peace.
Whilst the castle is under restoration, the poppy cascade is in storage. It will feature as a permanent exhibition in the future, giving visitors a place to reflect and ensuring that the care and dedication of everyone who contributed continue to help tell these stories.
Today, we remember Ralph alongside all those from Abergele, our surrounding communities and beyond who never returned home.
We will remember them.
Byddwn yn eu cofio.
