Rhys Davies and Daniel Gooch have been remembered in Tredegar with plaques in their honour

Rhys Davies is credited with having a "huge impact" on the industrial development of the USA and Daniel Gooch on developing a pioneering trans-atlantic telegraph cable.

Both left Tredegar in the early 1800s and chairman of Blaenau Gwent Heritage Forum Peter Morgan Jones said their stories have largely been forgotten because of the huge local focus on National Health Service founder Aneurin Bevan.

Mr Morgan Jones and colleagues in the forum gained funding of around £600 and 18 by 12 inches steel plaques have now been installed in the town.

One commemorating Mr Davies is on the Cambrian pub in The Circle and one commemorating Mr Gooch on the Railway Tavern at the bottom of Sirhowy Hill.

Mr Davies left south Wales in 1833 and helped build the Tredegar Ironworks in Richmond, Virginia, which was named in his honour.

Mr Morgan Jones said his story may never have come to light if he had not spotted a death notice in a newspaper from 1838.

He added: "Rhys Davies changed American history, his ironworks made weapons used in the civil war, it was the first to employ black workers in senior roles and had a huge impact in the industrial development of the USA.

"Daniel Gooch’s invention meant you could send messages in seconds or minutes rather than days or months and changed world history. Both had a huge impact and were remarkable people."