ONE of the founding members of the Penarth Citadel of the Salvation Army is set to be remembered with the dedication of a memorial stone on his grave this week.

A dedication ceremony in memory of Tommy Wallace, who died more than 83 years ago, will take place at Penarth Cemetery on Thursday, January 22.

The dedication ceremony has been organised by Bruce Wallace, who has painstakingly researched into his great grandfather’s life, with the help of Penarth Town Council and the Penarth Citadel of the Salvation Army.

It is hoped that Helen Dyer, the great granddaughter of Florence Emily Roberts, who sang ‘My Jesus I love thee’ at Tommy’s funeral, will be able to attend the dedication ceremony to sing the same song again.

Tommy Wallace was born in Brinkworth, Wiltshire, but came to Penarth in 1878 to work as a stone mason. He lived in Salop Street and was one of the founding members of the Salvation Army being set up in Penarth.

Tommy was one of the first to join and soon became their Colour Sergeant. He carried their flag for the next 40 years, saving it from a fire at the branch headquarters in a hall above Allen’s Garage (which is now Pearson’s Garage) on Salop Street.

Tommy retired in 1923, but continued to work part-time selling newspapers from a stand in Windsor Road. After becoming the oldest Salvation Army Colour Sergeant in Wales, he then became the oldest news vendor in the area when he reached the age of 80.

He died in 1931, but due to his long service with the Salvation Army and his work as a news vendor, he had a large funeral attended by many people from across the town.

More than 83 years after his death,and with support from Tommy’s granddaughter and the widow of his grandson, his great grandson Bruce Wallace has arranged to have a Memorial Stone erected on Tommy’s grave, and to have it properly dedicated.

Bruce Wallace thanked those that had helped arrange the dedication ceremony.

“Penarth Town Council have been very helpful, first in locating the unmarked grave, and then in arranging to assign the plot to me so that I could do this properly,” he said.

“I am also grateful to Max Scott-Cook and the other members of the Penarth Citadel of the Salvation Army for providing old photographs of Tommy and of the Salvation Army Band, and also for arranging to dedicate the memorial.

“Max told me that Mrs Florence Emily Roberts was his grandmother, so it will be very special for us all to be there again after 83 years.”

He added: “I have researched my great grandfather’s life and found it a fascinating story. However, one mystery remains. I was told many years ago that Tommy was known as ‘Tommy Dodd’, but I have been unable to find out why. If anyone has information on Tommy’s life and family, or why he was known as Tommy Dodd, they are welcome to contact me on 01267 211207, or to email me at brucewallace.cowin@gmail.com.”

The dedication ceremony will take place at 2.30pm at Penarth Cemetery on Thursday, January 22.