THE sacrifice made by three Gwent war heroes has finally been recognised - 60 years after they were killed in action.

The names of Crumlin servicemen Stoker First Class John Webb, Lance Corporal Calip Gwilliam and Private Henry Hughes were added to the town's war memorial this weekend.

Originally left off the memorial as an oversight, the men's wartime deaths were rightfully recorded at a special ceremony on Mining School Hill on Sunday.

Father-of-two Stoker John Webb was killed in August 1944, aged 40, trying to rescue a man after their ship, the HMS Orchis, struck a mine off the Normandy Coast.

He had joined the Royal Navy when he was 17 and in 1943 received a Bronze Oak Leaf for bravery after returning to a burning oil tanker to search for survivors.

More than 50 members of his family, including his sons, Barry and Des, were present at Sunday's ceremony.

Barry said: "It was a very emotional but important day. Other families have a physical place they can go to remember their loved ones but we have never had a grave. At least now we have somewhere to go."

Islwyn MP Don Touhig joined men's families, former comrades and local dignitaries to lead the service of remembrance.

Lance Corporal Gwilliam's sister, Yvonne Jeffries from Newbridge, was also at the service.

She told the Argus she was relieved her brother's sacrifice had been recognised.

She said: "It's comforting to know that long after I've gone his name will still be remembered and flowers will still be laid at the memorial."

A mine clearer with the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers, Lance Corporal Gwilliam was killed when he stepped on a mine near Gaza in December 1942, aged 22.

Mrs Jeffries never knew her eldest brother. She said: "I was born just months before he died. Although it was an emotional day I'm glad we did it."

Private Henry Hughes of the Monmouthshire Regiment was killed in action on July 4, 1944, during the liberation of Europe after the D-Day landings.