The secretary of the West Wales Maritime Heritage Society has been recognised for his achievements in establishing a Japanese war memorial in Pembrokeshire by the Prime Minister who has praised his ‘compassion and dedication’.

David James of Cosheston, who most recently helped drive fundraising in his local community to pay for a new memorial in Angle churchyard to the crew and passengers of a Japanese merchant ship sunk in the last weeks of World War One, has been handed a Points of Light award by the Prime Minister, which highlights outstanding individual volunteers who are making a change in their community.

The unveiling ceremony of the war memorial at Angle Churchyard on October 4 of last year, exactly 100 years after the merchant ship’s sinking, was performed by HRH the Duke of Gloucester and attended by a Japanese Government Minister, along with a contingent of British and Japanese dignitaries.

Only 30 of the 240 sailors and passengers on board the Hirano Maru survived when the ship was torpedoed by a German U-boat in the Irish Sea on October 4, 1918, during the final days of the war.

People living in Pembrokeshire found bodies along the county’s coastline - 10 of which were buried in the churchyard in Angle.

As a former serviceman, David spent time serving the British Army in Germany and Libya, where he noticed the graves of British soldiers had markers, inspiring him to commemorate the victims of war in his hometown.

He hopes the memorial will commemorate the victims and keep the story alive among younger generations to help them understand the realities of war.

David who runs the Maritime Heritage Society’s restoration projects out of Pembroke Dock, helping preserve the unique marine heritage of Pembrokeshire for future generations, received a personal letter from Prime Minister Theresa May to notify him of his award.

“You should be enormously proud of your work fundraising for a new memorial to the crew and passengers of the Japanese merchant ship sunk in the final days of World War One,” wrote the prime Minister.

“Your compassion and dedication to commemorating these victims is truly exceptional. I wish you every success with your continued work.

Up and down the UK?volunteers like you are helping to build a country that works for everyone. The Points of Light award is a small thank you on behalf of the whole counyry, in recognition of your exceptional service,” she added.

Responding to the award, David said: David said: “When I first thought of restoring the memorial over the grave of ten Japanese merchant seamen in Angle, I had no idea that it would touch so many people and succeed beyond my wildest expectations.

“Pembrokeshire people supported me, and so too did many Japanese people from ordinary citizens and dignitaries to HRH the Duke of Gloucester and His Excellency Koji Tsuruoka, Japanese Ambassador to the UK.

During my searches I have made many Japanese friends, both in the UK and in Japan, all of whom feel that I have done them a great service, although I did not realise the enormity of it until they explained it to me at the unveiling ceremony.

“Thus to be awarded the ‘Points of Light’ is the crowning moment of this whole project and I am humbled and honoured to be presented with it.

“May I thank those who have noticed my efforts and may I also express my sincere gratitude to all who have supported my nomination for the award,” he added.