A FORGOTTEN Stourbridge soldier, killed in World War One, will finally have his name added to the town’s memorial this weekend.

The Mayor of Dudley, Councillor Margaret Aston, has been invited to the event to commemorate the life of Corporal Harry Whitwell whose sacrifice was never acknowledged on the memorial in Mary Stevens Park.

But nearly 100 years after his death his name will finally be unveiled on the Norton cenotaph at a ceremony taking place this Saturday (September 13) at 11am.

Cllr Aston will be among a number of civic dignitaries attending the service, which has been organised by the Worcestershire based Remember the Fallen group and Dudley Council following a campaign by Corporal Whitwell's great nephew Paul Nash.

Councillor Margaret Aston, Mayor of Dudley, said: “I am pleased that Corporal Whitwell’s name has finally been added to the war memorial and I am honoured to be able to be part of this special and moving occasion, where his name will join the names of other heroes from this area.”

Mr Whitwell, of the 9th Battalion Worcestershire Regiment, died aged 24 while fighting for his country in Mesopotamia on February 2 1917 and he was buried in Amara War Cemetery in modern day Iraq.

His 26-year-old brother Thomas, of the 2nd Battalion Worcestershire Regiment, was killed in action in France a few months later on May 21 1917, leaving a wife Frances and daughter Mabel.

But news of Harry's death was delayed and the widowed father of the ill-fated brothers, Henry Whitwell, died in 1920 before names were gathered for the Stourbridge memorial.

Thomas's widow Frances is presumed to have put her late husband's name forward and made a donation towards the cost.

But for reasons unknown - Harry's name was omitted.

After hearing Corporal Whitwell's story - Stourbridge Football Club fans, the Anthony and Gwendoline Wylde Memorial Charity, the Laslett's Hinton Charity and Dudley Council's community forum for Norton, Pedmore, Stourbridge and Wollaston stumped up around £3,000 between them to help pay for the forgotten soldier's name to be added to the memorial.