 The Remembrance of Samuel Wassall
For the colour comic strip told the story of how Samuel Wassall VC rescued a drowning comrade under enemy fire during the Zulu war in 1879. And Mrs Hilda Wright believes her inquiries, sparked off by the strip, enabled an invitation to the biggest gathering of the Wassall clan for generations to reach her. Mrs Wright, 58, from Warrington was one of 85 descendants of the war hero who gathered round his grave in Barrow cemetary to take part in a remarkable memorial ceremony. Official recognition was conferred on Pte. Wassall 60 years after his burial following the discovery by the Barrow Royal British Legion branch of the grave - with no headstone. The branch raised £200 to pay for the headstone - erected by Barrow mason Mr Victor Grozan free of charge - and organised the ceremony which was held at the graveside on Saturday.Place of honour at the graveside was taken by Maj. Edward Green, regimental secretary of the Staffordshire Regiment which is the modern descendant of Pte. Wassall's Staffordshire Volunteers. The service was conducted by British Legion padre the Rev. Bill Hayward, a wreath was laid by branch president Mr. Derek Lyon and Barrow major Coun. Mrs Irene Lucas attended. |
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