A special memorial service was held to honour a forgotten Black Country hero who died on the battlefield during the First World War.

It was an emotional service at Moxley War Memorial yesterday as the family of Lance Corporal William Fellows were joined by civic dignitaries and war veterans who turned up to pay their respects to the fallen serviceman.

Mr Fellows, who was born just yards from the cenotaph in Queen Street, died on the battlefield in Ypres, Belgium in 1916, aged just 22.

But his name had never been added to 98 others on the war memorial until yesterday, when a plaque with his name on was finally unveiled.

Members of the South Staffordshire Regiment, of which Lance Corporal Fellows was a member of, led a short parade from Moxley People’s Centre to the war memorial, before playing The Last Post.

The service was led by Reverend Richard Inglesby, of All Saints Church in Moxley.

A war poem was read out by Marion Haywood, who was the great-niece of Lance Corporal Fellows.

Councillor Tom Ansell, Mayor of Walsall, then unveiled the plaque.

Speaking after the service, Mrs Haywood, aged 61, from Longcroft Avenue, Wednesbury, said: “It has been a wonderful day seeing so many people come here to honour my great-uncle.

“It has been a long time coming but he has finally been honoured and to see his name up there is just wonderful.”

Fred Blades, who is the great-nephew of Lance Corporal Fellows, had vowed to get his name put on the war memorial following a visit to his grave in Ypres last year.

The 77-year-old, of Stone Cross, was emotional as he described how his dream had finally been realised. “This is like bringing him home,” he said. “He was my great uncle, my grandmother’s younger brother and she absolutely adored him.

“When I was little she was always telling me about him and said she would take me to see his grave when the war is over.

“But she died in 1944 and I never got the chance to go until last year. But I fulfilled both mine and my grandmother’s wish by visiting his grave.

“When I got back I vowed to get his name put on the war memorial and with the help of the Moxley People’s Centre I have done that. It has been a special day.”

Moxley People’s Centre arranged to get his name on the war memorial and paid for the plaque. Fred Gleeson, development manager at the centre, said: “We are just so pleased to play our part in this very happy ending.

“It was a very emotional service for the family but one which made us all very proud to be a part of.”