COUNCILLORS paid their respects to lost war heroes at the unveiling of a new gravestone.

A new commonwealth war stone was unveiled last weekend (19 May) to include two names of soldiers instead of just one.

Mavis Williams, researcher for the Connah’s Quay interservices committee, researched the names of the soldiers on the war memorial from World War One and found 22 extra names of those who are not included.

During her research she found the names of two soldiers who were in fact buried together but only one name was included on the war gravestone, so councillors came together to unveil a new gravestone with both names, Henry Pearson and Robert Hughes.

Mavis Williams said: “It was good, I was really pleased and over the moon with the result and we had a really good reception afterwards.

“It was also well attended by Lord Barry Jones, Mark Tami, Aaron Shotton, Jack Sargeant and numerous councillors from Connah’s Quay, the Welsh Assembly, the Royal Welsh Fusiliers and the public.

“I would like to say a big thank you to the local business who helped with artificial grass to make the graves look better for the families as the graves are 100 years old, we are grateful to Dixon’s Discount Flooring, Shotton, for their generous donation of the grass.”

The two names unveiled on the gravestone were uncles of Maureen Jenkins, an old friend of Mavis who had reconnected after 65 years when Mavis researched into the names.

Mavis had discovered that Robert Hughes had fought for his country but had not been recognised for this.

Maureen Jenkins said: “It was quite an occasion for all my family and it will be a very cherished memory.

“To say it was emotional is an understatement, we will always be so grateful. Without the help of Mavis and the Commonwealth Graves Commission none of this would have happened.

“It is important all the young men who sacrificed their lives fighting for their country be remembered. The work of Mavis and CWGC is so important bringing all this to our attention.”