COLOUR and ceremony overcame the cold mistiness of the day as Gunner Abraham Evans, a hero of Rorke's Drift was honoured on his own soil.

Royal British Legion and other ex-service standards including those of the South Wales Borderers dipped smartly as a stone was unveiled at the head of the soldier's grave. The Union flag which shrouded the headstone was removed by the mayor of Torfaen Councillor Colette Thomas.

Evans was born at Twynyrffrwd, Abersychan in 1855 and enlisted in the Royal Artillery at Newport at the age of 19 and three years after that was despatched to Africa where he fought in the Ninth Kaffir War.

When the British Army which had marched from the Cape arrived at Rorke's Drift on the Natal border in 1879 Evans was confined to the mission hospital suffering from dysentery.

After the near-annihilation of the British Force at Isandlwana and as Zulu reserves turned against the tiny outpost at nearby Rorke's Drift, Evans manned the defences and helped repel the Zulus. Eleven Victoria Crosses were awarded after Rorke's Drift, the highest number in any engagement fought by the British Army.

Gunner Evans died in 1915. His grand-daughter Pauline Lamont, of Cheltenham, said: "At last a brave man who took part in one of the British Army's most heroic defences has been honoured.

"I am very proud and grateful for what has happened here today."

*Pictured: Pauline Lamont, granddaughter of Gunner Evans