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Wales falls silent at Remembrance Sunday services

Matthew Horwood Serviceman dressed in uniform with medals pinned to his chestMatthew Horwood
Military band with drums and brass instruments march past City Hall in Cardiff
Services and parades are being held across Wales on Sunday, with a big commemoration at the Welsh National War Memorial in Cardiff
A parade was held in Cardiff before the service at the Welsh National War Memorial

A national remembrance service has taken place to commemorate those who lost their lives in conflict.

Military personnel marched past Cardiff's City Hall en route to the ceremony at the Welsh National War Memorial in Cathays Park.

First Minister Eluned Morgan, who was one of those in attendance, said it was "important that we recognise the impact that war can have on every member of society".

Parades and services are also being held across Wales, including Ceredigion, Gwynedd, Powys, Swansea and Wrexham.

Matthew Horwood Ex-services personnel and civilians also took part in the national serviceMatthew Horwood
A bugler from The Royal Welsh Regimental Band and Corps of Drums of The Royal Welsh sounded the Last Post in Cardiff

"It is also an honour to stand alongside our Welsh service personnel who play their part in active service and peace-keeping duties around the world," said Morgan.

A bugler sounded the Last Post ahead of a two-minute silence at Wrexham's memorial at Bodhyfryd.

Elsewhere, a service was held at Bangor Cathedral, Gwynedd, followed by a parade to the city's war memorial, with others held across the county, including Caernarfon and Porthmadog.

The Newport Stedfast Band led a parade to the cenotaph at Clarence Place for the city's service of remembrance, supported by the City of Newport Male Choir and Newport Borough Brass Band.

In Swansea, a service was held at its cenotaph with a remembrance parade at Oxford Street from 14:00 GMT.

Rhondda Cynon Taf Council said at least 15 communities had planned services, with a number of road closures in place for parades.

Nine communities in Flintshire also requested road closures to hold services, according to the local newspaper.

Carmarthenshire council said it would illuminate County Hall on Sunday and Armistice Day evening to "reflect and remember the sacrifices of our armed forces, and all those whose lives have been lost in conflict and acts of terror".

And in Hay-on-Wye, Powys, a church service is due to take place on Sunday at 14:45 followed by a parade and wreath laying ceremony at 16:00.

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Aberystwyth has been commemorating the memory of the late World War Two veteran Frank Evans, among others.

A prisoner of war in Hong Kong and Japan, he returned to both countries in the 1980s "to face his past and to reconcile in order to seal a peaceful future", according to Aberystwyth major Maldwyn Pryse.

Mr Pryse, school children and other community representatives have just returned from an event in Yosano, Kyoto, to mark 40 years since honouring Mr Evans and other prisoners of war by dedicating a memorial.

Adrian Hughes stands in a cemetery with headstones in the background
Llandudno historian Adrian Hughes has visited 284 graves around the world of those whose names appear on the town's war memorial

Llandudno historian Adrian Hughes has been visiting the graves of the 330 names on the town's war memorial to lay a small cross or wreath.

He has visited 284 graves, so far, travelling around the UK, as well as to France, Belgium, Israel and Greece, with 46 left to go.