THE story of Lance Corporal Allan Lewis VC from Herefordshire has been reported on many times in the Hereford Times but a project begun back in the summer at Eardisley Primary School has uncovered many other fascinating stories from the First World War including another First World War recipient of the Victoria Cross whose grandmother was born and lived in Whitney-on-Wye.

Earlier this year the pupils at the school planted poppies grown from seeds donated by the Royal British Legion. The poppies were grown by Sharon Hatchwell who runs the after school nature club at Eardisley and she decided to find out more about the names on the local war war memorials so that the children would know a little about the servicemen they were planting the poppies for - many of whom would probably have been at Eardisley school just like them.

Eighty two names were collected from the memorials at Almeley, Brilley, Eardisley, Kinnersley, Letton, Whitney-on-Wye and Winforton and six months later, all but one of the soldiers has been identified. The information has been gathered together with illustrations of Eardisley pupils' First World War project and is to be presented to each of the parish churches to commemorate the centenary of the war.

Sharon said "It's been a fascinating project, I've been helped along the way by total strangers from Ireland to Canada who've been really generous with their time".

Whilst researching the names at Whitney-on-Wye Sharon also discovered that Acting Captain Walter Napleton Stone was the grandson of Emily Dew (later Mieuville) who was born at Whitney Court and was the sister of Henry Dew, the vicar of Whitney-on-Wye for over 40 years. Captain Stone received the Victoria Cross for his actions on November 30, 1917 which led to his death at age 25 years. He is commemorated at the Cambrai Memorial to the Missing in France.