Mid Wales Memorial Project - MWMP

Good evening everyone!

It’s a long one, but please read!

I need your help! So, I want to set up a website. I’m not very computer savvy (I once deleted my graphics drivers, when I was trying to get rid of some documents…). You may know, but I run the MWMP on my own, with a bit of help from some others.

Now, I know how I want it to look. The idea I have, is to have a landing page, explaining about the project, what I do, and have a contact form.

I also have the idea of an interactive map of the Mid Wales Region, showing where all the military crash sites are. For those who have seen my display, you will have seen my pin board, it will be like that, but you can click on the crash site, and it will take you to a page, dedicated to that crash, with photos, crash reports etc. One of the goals I have, will be to put a QR code with the memorials, that people can scan at the site, and it shall take them to the page about that crash, bringing the story to life, there and then.

I also will have merchandise available so a page for that, although it won’t be ‘bought’ through the website, so don’t need a shopping feature.

I have looked at Wix, GoDaddy, Wordpress, and a few others.

I have also looked at the domain of either MWMP.UK or MWMP.co.uk, both of which are available.

The only issue I have, is although it’s ok to start with (around £180 for the first 2-3 years), the price will then double. For a project that I purely rely on fundraising myself, I hope you can appreciate why I’m reluctant.

Soooo, I need -

1. The ability to purchase the domain AND a website tool, that can do a lot of the leg work, but allow me to make changes.

2. Affordable for a project that relies purely on donations (for now, although I am considering setting it up as a CIC or something along those lines).

If anyone has any ideas, runs their own website, or any advice, I’d love to hear it.

With a proper website, I can ensure the project is embedded properly, and we can have it as an ‘online memorial’, whilst waiting for the physical ones to be completed. It will also raise the project’s profile!

Hope you can help!

Adrian
MWMP

Absolutely fantastic to see the MWMP and the memorial unveiling to V9127 was featured in 'The Weekly Advertiser - the local newspaper in Horsham, Australia - the home town of the pilot, F/O David Anderson.

A big thank you Lauren Henry, who did the article, and has helped get the MWMP in touch with Anderson's relatives.

Memorial honours Horsham pilot - The Weekly Advertiser By Lauren Henry The crash site of where a former Horsham pilot died during training in the Second World War in Wales was memorialised earlier this month David Campbell Anderson who enlisted for the Royal Australia Air Force in was based at the Royal Air Force station at Honeybourne south of Birmingh...

Thinking of our US friends and family on this Memorial Day.

These photos I took when I visited the American Cemetery in Madingley, Cambridgeshire.

Far too many, taken too soon. Some of whom lost their lives within our beautiful Welsh hills and valleys.

They will never be forgotten.

After VE Day, many people seem to forget that although the war was over in Europe, many were still dying in tragic accidents on the continent.

A personal one to me is the following -

On this day, 23rd May 1945, a C-46 Commando transport aircraft, of the 314th Transport Squadron, 31st Transport group, blew up over France, due to an oil leak.

It had a crew of four, and was flying 40 wounded soldiers back to a rear hospital. It lost control and crashed outside the village of Taillefontaine. All onboard were killed.

The crew members were

1st Lt Rex L. Pond,
1st Lt Claude H. Weid,
Sgt Edward Vermillion,
Sgt Edward Hill.

Every year around this time I take a moment to remember this accident. My uncle, Capt. Del Meier, was good friends with the crew as he was also their flight lead. He went to the crash site, and wrote in his war diary how he found the body of his good friend Rex. It was not long after this he stopped writing about his experiences. I have included the page from his diary below.

We will remember them.

Adrian
MWMP

Some of the photos and videos taken by my dad, Chris, yesterday.

Without him, and his support, I wouldn’t be where I am, so a big thank you goes out to him.

Today was an honour to unveil the memorial for the crash of Lockheed Hudson V9127 as part of the Mid Wales Memorial Project.

A huge thank you to everyone who attended the unveiling and to all those who have helped, supported, and contributed to the project along the way — it truly means a great deal.

A very special thank you to Janet, the daughter of Sgt Harker, and her family for attending today’s memorial. Your presence made the occasion especially meaningful.

If anyone took photographs during the event, please feel free to upload and share them in the comments, or privately message the page and I’ll happily add them to the album. I only managed to get a couple!

I shall also still have the display at the Red Kite Cafe tomorrow if anyone wants to visit.

Adrian
MWMP

James Memorials Ltd
Red Kite Cafe & Grill
Epic Militaria
561 (Ardwyn, Aberystwyth & District) Sqn. ATC
Rheidol Garage BP

We did it…