AN HISTORIAN searching for the descendants of Penarth men taken as Prisoners of War during the First World War is planning a reception for them to meet each other.

Bruce Wallace, of Penarth, has been researching the men after discovering the name of his grandfather Thomas Wallace on a menu card for The Penarth Repatriated PoWs Welcome Home Dinner, hosted by the local council.

The dinner was held in the Queen Restaurant, 1 Royal Buildings, Windsor Road on March 11 1919.

Mr Wallace is looking for other descendants of the 46 men listed as Penarth PoWs, and has found six more people so far.

He is now planning a reception at the Conservative Club in Penarth on Saturday March 9 from 2pm for them to meet.

Mr Wallace said: “I am grateful to Penarth resident Dorothy Foulkes, granddaughter of PoW parcel fund organiser Catherine Meazey, for providing me with a copy of the 1919 dinner menu card as it had the names and addresses of 35 returning PoWs on it. I am also grateful to Marcus Payne for cataloguing all the references to PoWs in wartime editions of the local press.

“The Conservative Club was chosen because it is immediately across the road from where the 1919 dinner took place.

“Representatives of the town council, local organisations and other researchers who have helped me in this project have also been invited.”

Anyone who is interested in the event, or that can help find further descendants of the men can contact Mr Wallace on 07817 583 720, or email brucewallace.cowin@gmail.com.

A full list of the 46 men can be provided on request.