Hero sailor receives headstone after 95 years

Harry Temple entered icy water to save two boys who had fallen in

A sailor who died trying to save two boys from drowning 95 years ago will finally receive a headstone to mark his grave.

A stonemason who heard the heroic story created one, free of charge, to commemorate the bravery of Harry Temple from Wolverhampton.

5,000 people lined the streets to attend the 27-year-old's funeral in 1929.

The stone will be installed ahead of a memorial service, which is set to take place on the 80th anniversary of the D-Day landings.

Five thousand people lined the streets on the day of his funeral

Harry Park Temple died on January 20, 1929 after two boys fell into icy water.

The sailor was home on leave prior to being sent to China, said the Carnegie Hero Fund Trust.

A group of teenage boys had been playing football at the iced-over Cinder Pool off Willenhall Road, when the ice broke and two of the boys fell in.

His descendants said the 27-year-old crawled over the ice and entered the water, but all three of them drowned.

Five thousand people attended his funeral and his mother was awarded a memorial certificate in honour of his death, the family added.

The sailor was not given a headstone when buried

The headstone was made by stonemason Christopher Wilkinson, director of Wilkinson Stonemasons.

The Carnegie medal was awarded to Harry posthumously and its design has been carved into his gravestone.

After hearing the story, Mr Wilkinson said: "We felt it was important he had a fitting memorial

“I wanted to carve the medal into the stone to commemorate his bravery. It’s been an honour creating a lasting tribute to a local hero.”

The service will be at St Matthew’s Church, Willenhall Road, Wolverhampton on Thursday 6th June at 13:30 BST. A blessing service will follow at Bilston Cemetery.

Relatives hoped that holding the memorial service on the 80th anniversary of D-Day would allow people to acknowledge and thank all our Armed Forces personnel.