War heroes honoured (From Penarth Times)

War heroes honoured

4:31pm Sunday 4th May 2008

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ON Sunday, April 27, the Town Mayor of Penarth, Councillor Gwyn Roberts, unveiled a commemorative plaque at West House.

The plaque commemorates Captain Richard William Leslie Wain, VC, Tank Corps, born at 4 Victoria Square 1847, and killed in action at the Battle of Cambrai, Marcoing, France.

It also commemorates Sergeant Samuel George Pearse, VC, MM, Royal Fusiliers, born at 47 Arcot Street, and killed in action north of Emtsa, Russia in 1919.

The ceremony and dedication of the plaque came about after the history of the Penarth soldiers 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 Frontiersmen 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."

Colonel Kiley started a campaign to commemorate them- and two years of hard work culminated in Sunday's ceremony.

"I'm over the moon," he added.

"We owe a debt of honour to these two celtic warriors.

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

The Town Mayor was joined by his wife the Mayoress, Mrs Nicola Roberts, the Mayor of the Vale of Glamorgan Cllr Clive Williams, town councillors, members of the Royal British Legion, Penarth, representatives of the armed forces and other invited guests.

The guests of honour were members of the families of both Captain Wain, VC and Sgt Pearse, VC, MM.

The Town Mayor said: "I was honoured to unveil the plaque as a permanent memorial in the town to these two brave sons of Penarth."

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