AUGUST 12 was the start of the grouse shooting season (The Glorious Twelfth) but it also marked the 76th anniversary of the death by shooting of a brave investigative journalist born and educated in Barry, namely Gareth Jones.

His family home in Romilly Road is now marked with a blue plaque and his magnificent family grave, often decorated with messages of sympathy and the national flag from the Ukraine, is in Merthyr Dyfan cemetery.

I was reminded of him on a recent visit to Krakow, Poland, where I came upon a sculpted wall plaque to the victims of the ‘Great Famine in the Ukraine (Holodomor) 1932-1933’.

This was the tragic event which led to the death of Gareth Jones. He reported on the tragedy but few believed him and later, whilst in Mongolia, he was murdered (executed?) by persons unknown. The most likely possibility is the NKVD - precursors of the KGB. We will never know.

We do know, however, that Barry and the Vale of Glamorgan should be proud of this intrepid and brave journalist who died at a young age.

Christopher Short Aberystwyth Crescent Barry