Interview by Hugh Morgan (Age Cymru Dyfed/WWVA) with Lieutenant Colonel David Mathias that covers his efforts in the 1980s to record the memories of WWI veterans before their stories were lost. He captured valuable military and social history through these meetings; which include : Gwilym Blair Williams, a Mametz Wood veteran; Heinrich Krappen, a German soldier who served in both WW1 and WW2; Alf Dixon’s description of the Battle of Mons; Reg Fry, Llanelli’s last WWI veteran, Ivor Watkins and Gwyn Morris (Mametz Wood Veterans) and Albert Wheeler (Burry Port).

00:00:00 – Introduction by Hugh Morgan
00:00:39 – David Mathias’ Motivation
00:01:50 – First Recording: Gwilym Blair Williams
00:02:52 – Social History Element
00:03:54 – Urgency and Preservation
00:04:45 – German Veteran: Heinrich Krappen
00:06:34 – Geographic Scope
00:07:40 – Reg Fry
0:08:33 – Migration and Integration
00:09:20 – Mametz Wood Dragon Memorial
00:10:58 – Mametz Wood Veterans
00:11:11 – List of Other Veterans
00:11:54 – Wartime Rhymes
00:12:34 – Veterans’ Modesty
00:13:55 – Reflections by Hugh
00:14:30 – WWII Veteran: Dennis Tidswell
00:16:07 – Early Recordings & Chance Connections
00:17:10 – Ivor Watkins & Gwyn Morris at Mametz
00:18:12 – Alf Dixon’s Account
00:19:03 – Robert Owen Williams
00:19:42 – Recording Methods & Archive
00:20:34 – Tape Survival & Value
00:21:03 – Reg Fry’s Legacy
00:21:45 – Archive and Medal Plans
00:22:06 – Closing Recollections
00:22:29 – Audio enhancement
00:23:24 – Mathias’ Pride in the Project
00:23:29 – Publication Plans
00:23:52 – Unexpected Discoveries