Memorial planned for VC hero

Kyt · 25-08-2008, 07:50 PM

Memorial planned for Flintshire's VC hero - Evening Leader

Quote:

PLANS for a memorial to one of the region's greatest war heroes have received the backing of a Flintshire MP.

Alyn and Deeside MP Mark Tami says a memorial to Harry Weale, from Shotton, who won the Victoria Cross for bravery during the First World War, would be a "fitting tribute".

Mr Tami added that it would boost the area's pride in its own history and raise awareness of Harry Weale's story.

"At the moment I think the vast majority of people on Deeside are unaware of Harry Weale's achievements", said Mr Tami.

"It's quite something for the area to have someone who won the VC, which is only awarded for the most exceptional acts of bravery and gallantry, and we should celebrate the fact."

As the Leader reported earlier this month, Harry Weale, known formally as Henry, was born on October 2, 1897, at Nine Houses, Brook Road, Shotton, and during the First World War served as lance corporal with the Royal Welch Fusiliers.

Almost exactly 90 years ago, on August 26, 1918, he was involved in a battle in the village of Bazentin-le-Grand, near Longueval in northern France.

According to the citation of the Victoria Cross that Harry later received for his actions that day, "his dashing deeds cleared the way for the advance, inspired his comrades and resulted in the capture of all the machine guns".

At the age of 20, his "most conspicuous bravery and initiative in attack" earned him the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British forces.

After the war, Harry returned home to a hero's welcome.

He was invited to Buckingham Palace to receive his VC in a special ceremony, and after that it was back to his home town of Shotton, where thousands of people lined the streets to welcome home their hero as he stepped off the train.

Harry, a former pupil at St Ethelwold's School in Shotton, was given an illuminated address outside the school by headteacher Thomas Haswell and John Summers and Sons presented Harry, a former worker at Shotton Steelworks, with a solid gold watch.

Later in life Harry moved to Rhyl and when he died in 1959, aged 61, he was given a full military funeral.

He is buried at Rhyl Cemetery and his VC, said to be worth about £250,000, is housed in the Royal Welch Fusiliers' Museum at Caernarfon Castle.

The Territorial Army centre on Station Road, Queensferry, is named after him, and long-held plans for a memorial are now taking shape.

The idea of a Harry Weale memorial in Shotton has been talked about for years, but for the first time a site has now been identified – on Jubilee Street.

There are no specific plans for the design, but it is hoped it will be something "more than a plaque".

Shotton Town Council is now working on getting a memorial built, and hopes the 90th anniversary of the act which earned Harry the VC will give the plans fresh impetus.

Cllr David Evans, chairman of Shotton Town Council, said: "Like with all of these things, there is a financial aspect, and there is always a danger that it could be vandalised, but everyone is in favour of it and it would be great for Shotton's sense of heritage and culture to have something like this in the town."

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henry_Weale