TWO former soldiers honoured with the Victoria Cross will be commemorated by a plaque - following the discovery that they were both born in Penarth.

Captain Richard William Leslie Wain, VC, who featured on the front cover of boys' comic Victor', and Sergeant Samuel George Pearse, VC, MM, will be honoured by Penarth Town Council at a ceremony this Sunday (April 27) at the Civic Offices, Stanwell Road, after their history was pieced together by Colonel Paul Kiley, an ex serviceman from Cardiff.

Colonel Kiley said: "I was doing some private research into how many welsh VC holders there were when I came across one VC winner who had the same name as a member of the Legion of Frontiers men of the day.

"When I realised it was the same person I was gobsmacked.

"It was Samuel Pearse, and he was from Penarth. I did more research and came across Richard Wain, and he was also of Penarth."

When ex servicemen from local clubs told Paul they had never heard of the officers, he embarked upon a project to commemorate them.

After two years of campaigning, and some help from BBC Wales, the plaque will finally be unveiled by Town Mayor, Cllr Gwyn Roberts, at this Sunday's ceremony.

"I'm over the moon," added Paul "We owe a debt of honour to these two celtic warriors.

"It's fantastic - they will never be forgotten now.

"They were only 22 when they died and were so brave."

Samuel Pearse, previously of 47 Arcot St, was killed in action in North Russia on August 29, 1919 having survived the battle of Galipoli and the Somme.

He was awarded the VC for his bravery rescuing wounded soldiers under heavy fire when he was working as a messenger.

Richard Wain, who was born at 4 Victoria Square, went to school in Cardiff before joining various regiments and then the newly formed Tank Corps.

Richard was at the first day of the battle of Cambrai, France, as a tank commander.

His objective was to go behind enemy lines - and, as our pictures show, his mission was immortalised in comic, Victor'.

Mr Kiley said: "The tank Richard was in was hit by an exploding shell and although he was mortally wounded he got out of the burning wreckage and picked up a Lewis gun and attacked the German position.

"I came across a copy of the comic and couldn't believe what was on the front cover - a tribute to the Penarth hero."

Little is known about Richard's family but Samuel's daughter, Victoria, is 88 and lives in Sydney.

* PENARTH Mayor Cllr Roberts will unveil a plaque to commemorate Captain Wain, VC, and Sergeant Pearse, VC, at 1pm in the grounds of West House, Stanwell Road. The Reverend Peter Cox, of All Saints Church, will perform the service and representatives of the Town Council, civic dignitaries, members of the Order of Frontiersmen, Royal British Legion members, representatives of the Tank Corps and Royal Fusiliers, plus other service personnel and family members will be present.

The Town Council would also like to extend the invitation, to join in the memorial service, to any resident or visitor who may wish to honour these two gallant soldiers.

A framed copy of the Victor comic featuring Captain Wain, VC, will be presented to the Royal Tank Regiment.