A TINTERN man walking his dog near Chepstow found a memento of a Second World War hero.

Mr Ralph Duffield was walking near Piercefield House when he found an identity plaque – or dog tag – dropped by an American soldier nearly 70 years ago.

Mr Duffield hopes to travel to the United States later this year to give the metal tag to relatives of Merle Welfare.

Thousands of American troops were billeted at Piercefield before going into action and there are stories that they used the house for target practice.

In 1944 Mr Welfare, who was attached to the US Army's 90th Infantry Division, was awarded the Silver Star for gallantry. He died in 2007 aged 89.

Mr Duffield said: "I was walking over by Piercefield House and I saw something glinting.

"It was a dog tag belonging to a soldier who was billeted at the house and it was still in very good condition.

"I wonder if he replaced his tag or he went off to war without it?"

With the help of friends he managed to contact Mr Welfare's niece in Fort Dodge, Iowa to tell her about the find.

He added: "She was very interested in it and I would like to go to the States and give it to the family.

"Apparently he didn't talk about his war experiences."

Mr Duffield has his own links to the army camp at Piercefield having lived there as a young child after the war.

He said: "There weren't many houses available in Chepstow after the war and a lot of families took over the billets after the Americans left.

"I remember that we had to go to the well for water and use a Tilly lamp for light.

"I would be interested in hearing from anyone who lived at the racecourse after the war."