THIS weekend marks a century since the heroic actions of a Flintshire war hero.

Henry Weale (known as Harry) was born on October 2,1897, at Ninehouses on Brook Road in Shotton.

Like many boys of the time, he left school at 14 and went to work at John Summers Steelworks.

For the Great War he enlisted with the Royal Welch Fusiliers to serve King and country (14th Battalion) and rose to the rank of Lance Corporal by the time of the action at Bazentin-le-Grand, France, on August 26 in 1918 and he was later discharged as a Sergeant at the cessation of hostilities.

St Asaph historian Charles Leach told of his story.

He explained: "On August 26, 1918, at Bazentin-le-Grand - when the advance of the adjacent battalion was held up by enemy machine-guns - Lance-Corporal Weale was ordered to deal with hostile posts. "When his Lewis gun failed him, on his own initiative, he rushed the nearest post and killed the crew then went for the others - the crews of which fled on his approach.

"His dashing action cleared the way for the advance, inspired his comrades and resulted in the capture of all the machine-guns.

"Harry returned home to Shotton where he stepped off the train to a hero’s welcome from crowds who had gathered from miles around."

Mr Leach explained Harry Weale was presented with an illuminated address by the headteacher of his former primary school, St Ethelwold’s.

It read: “The parish is proud to know that one of its own boys has won, by deed of valour, the highest distinction which a British soldier can win.”

Sgt Weale received his VC (Victoria Cross) from King George V at Buckingham Palace on March 1, 1919.

The management at John Summers were so impressed with his bravery that they presented him with a gold hunter pocket watch.

Mr Leach continued: "In June 1919 Harry married Susie Harrison of Rhyl and the couple moved to the town.

"Harry like many of his generation found it difficult to adapt to civilian life after service in HM forces in the search of a life fit for heroes.

"Harry went from a hero, invited to receptions at Buckingham Palace, to a council worker.

"Susie’s mother was in poor health and Harry was forced to sell his John Summers gold watch to make ends meet.

"Harry and Susie had three sons and a daughter. Perhaps one of the most touching tales of Harry’s life was that his former employer John Summers tracked down and bought the gold watch he was forced to part with.

"The firm returned the timepiece to his nephew in the 60s, and it remains with the family to this day."

Sgt Weale died on January 13, 1959, in Rhyl and he was buried with full military honours at Rhyl Cemetery.

His medals including the VC, 1914-15 Star, British War Medal 1914-20, Victory Medal 1914-19 with Mentioned in Despatches Oakleaf, Defence Medal 1939-45, War Medal 1939-45, King George VI Coronation Medal 1937 and Queen Elizabeth II Coronation Medal 1953.

The medals are held by the Royal Welch Fusiliers Museum, Caernarfon Castle.

The TA centre in Queensferry, North Wales is now named the Henry Weale VC TA Centre to mark the action of a hero who had been at nearby Shotton

On January 13, 2009, at Rhyl Cemetery a former group namely North East Wales Veterans Group gathered to mark the fiftieth anniversary of Sgt Weale's death.