A STREET was yesterday (Friday, September 5) named in honour of a war hero 70 years after he died in a grenade explosion saving the lives of a group of children.

Bombardier Robert Key is still remembered in the French town of Annezin after he saved the lives of up to 20 youngsters by grabbing the grenade after one of them accidentally pulled out the pin in 1944.

A military inquiry at the time falsely accused him of using the grenade in a “negligent manner” after officers apparently failed to properly translate the accounts of local witnesses.

But his family were never informed of the circumstances and only knew he died in action.

His surviving relatives, who always believed him a hero, were overwhelmed at the extent of his bravery when the truth finally emerged in 2008 – and a street was named after him in the French town two years later.

Yesterday, his memory was further honoured when a street was named after him in the former pit village of Hamsterley, near Consett, County Durham, where he grew up and was a miner before joining the Army.

His niece Gilly Mills, 59, from Coventry, said: “Robert was wounded at Dunkirk, took part in the D-Day landings and survived the fighting through France.

“On September 4, 1944 they liberated the town Annezin and were camped in a field when a group of children came to talk to them.

“He saw an older child, aged 15 or 16, take a grenade from the back of a truck and pull the pin out.

“Robert screamed at the children to run grabbed the grenade from the child and went to throw it away, but before he was able to, it exploded and he was fatally wounded.”

She added: “We are all very proud to have someone in our family who was a true hero. He was always a hero in his parents and brothers’ and sisters’ eyes.”

Mrs Mills, her two children, her brother Robert who was named after their uncle, and another of his nieces Margaret Crabtree attended the unveiling of Robert Key Mews – a Derwentside Homes development.

Derwentside Homes chief executive Geraldine Kay said: "It is a fitting tribute, in the year which marks 100 years since Robert was born and 70 years since he died, that we honour the memory of this war hero.

"His act of selfless bravery shines down through the decades and Derwentside Homes are delighted his memory will live on through this street name.

"All those who come to live here will have a permanent reminder of the sacrifice he made."

French dignitary Francine Charpentier, who attended the plaque unveiling, said a wreath was being laid at Bombadier Key’s grave in Annezin at the same time.