London Borough of Richmond-upon-Thames (in Great Britain) launches appeal to create memorial to Belgian refugees

London Borough of Richmond-upon-Thames (in Great Britain) launches appeal to create memorial to Belgian refugees

In Britain, a fundraising campaign has been launched by the London Borough of Richmond-upon-Thames to create a memorial to Belgian refugees in the First World War in the village of East Twickenham (to the south-west of London) indicated the local newspaper, the Richmond and Twickenham Times, on Sunday. “During the First World War, the munitions factory in Richmond recruited 6,000 Belgian refugees. The village changed so much that it became known at the time as ‘the Belgian village on the River Thames,’ explains Helen Baker, managing the project.

Richmond-upon-Thames Council has offered £5,000 (6,800 euros) towards the monument. Approximately £1,200 (1,630 euros) has also been raised from individuals. The East Twickenham community hopes to raise a further £9,150 (12,440 euros) for the project.

The memorial will be placed in the Warren Gardens close to the former munitions factory.

During the First World War, thousands of Belgians took refuge in Great Britain and France.

(Source: Belga)


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