THE FAMILY of a forgotten Normandy hero from Newport is being sought by a London writer.

Sergeant Henry Arthur Staddon was a member of the 2nd Battalion Monmouthshire Regiment, part of the 53rd Welsh division and took part in some of the bloodiest fighting of the Normandy Campaign.

He was awarded a number of medals during this time including the Military Medal for Gallantry in 1944, one of the country’s highest honours.

This was for saving the life of a fellow soldier who was set alight by a phosphorous grenade.

Sgt Staddon was one of only 31 members in the Regiment to receive the Military Medal for Gallantry after a recommendation by the Commanding Officer.

This was after an incident on August 14 1944 when a fellow soldier was hit by shell fire and his No. 77 phosphorus smoke grenade was ignited.

Sgt Staddon stripped the man’s clothing and equipment and extinguished the phosphorus which was burning him.

Sgt Staddon was wounded during an attack the following day. It is not known whether he returned to action with the Regiment following this.

Now medal researcher Richard Bonney, of London, is appealing for information on the sergeant for an article he is writing after hearing about the medals being auctioned to a private collector in 2006.

He said: “I have an interest in Welsh history and in the men of the South Wales Borderers and Monmouthshire Regiment.

“I would dearly love to track down Staddon’s relatives or anybody who remembers him to find out the interesting story of the man behind the medals.”

The information will be used by Mr Bonney for an article for the Regimental Journal.

Anyone with any information on Henry Staddon can contact Mr Bonney at welsharchitect@yahoo.co.uk