20 years ago, Llandudno was “twinned” with- a small town in Northern France, some 12 miles from Dunkirk : so why was this?

Between 26th and 28th May 1940, men from The Royal Artillery (Warwickshire, Gloucester and Cheshire regiments, including many men from Llandudno area) fought on the outskirts of Wormhout to prevent the German army from breaking though the town towards the Dunkirk beaches, where evacuation of British troops was being carried out.

Their bravery was a major factor in the eventual escape of 350,000 men, but they paid a heavy price, as many men were shot and killed immediately. About 90-100 men were gathered together and force marched, in appalling conditions, to a tiny barn on the outskirts of Wormhout. They were pushed in the barn, and grenades were thrown in, on order from the senior German officer, General Wilhelm Monke.

At the close of hostilities, only Eight of the men survived to tell their story to the war crimes commission, of the atrocity that is now known as the ‘Wormhout massacre’.

These ex-servicemen returned regularly to honour their fallen comrades, and in their honour, Llandudno and Wormhout town councils made the decision to twin.

Yearly friendship exchange visits are now made between the towns, including children as well as adults, fostering European and cultural understanding.