LOCAL knowledge proved crucial when a Portland man was tasked to track down the descendants of war heroes who served aboard the HMS Ajax.

Since its beginnings as an ammunition plant at the outset of the Second World War, the Canadian town of Ajax has named streets after people who served aboard the Royal Navy ship.

HMS Ajax, along with HMS Exeter and HMS Achilles, won one of the first significant Allied successes of the war at the Battle of the River Plate on December 13, 1939.

Alf Larkin, of Easton Lane, served aboard the ship himself in the 1970s and, as a committee member for the HMS Ajax Veterans Association, it fell to him to try to find relatives of the most recent servicemen to be honoured with a street name, one of whom was a James Joseph Weld, a former commanding officer of the ship.

Visiting the town ahead of the 75th anniversary of the battle, Mr Larkin accepted a commemorative street sign and decorative plaque from the Mayor of Ajax on behalf of those whose families could not be present.

But when he returned home he found no record of a JJ Weld in the association members.

Mr Larkin said: “Obviously, being from Dorset I knew the surname and I contacted the Lulworth Estate knowing that a previous owner was a Joseph Weld and that James Weld is the current owner. James confirmed that James Joseph Weld was indeed a relative and the family invited us to present the gifts from Canada.”

Mr Weld said: “I am obviously delighted to receive the street sign and plaque, particularly because I share the same names with Captain Weld, James Joseph and because he was my godfather’s father.

“It is timely reminder, as we mark Armistice Day, about the sacrifices made by many in times of war to protect and defend our freedom and beliefs.”

According to records James Joseph Weld served aboard the HMS Ajax from 1942 to 1944.

The Town of Ajax is the only town in the world named after a Royal Navy warship and in its honour more than 600 of the streets are named after crew members.