Most people visiting the cemetery at a quiet church in a picturesque part of Shropshire would not give the grave of David Williams a second glance.

The words on the headstone in the cemetery at Coalbrookdale Church are gradually eroding away and are now becoming harder to read.

But on closer examination they reveal that Mr Williams, who was born in Buildwas on May 26 1791, served at the Battle of Waterloo in Belgium.

Now an appeal has gone out to raise £1,200 to pay for a new headstone to preserve this piece of the county’s history. The grave was brought to the attention of Clive Blakeway, Shropshire War Memorials Association chairman, by Sir Charles Soame, who lives nearby in Cherry Tree Hill.

Sir Charles Soane is pictured (left) with Clive Blakeway.

The inscription on the gravestone reads: “In affectionate remembrance of Sarah, the wife of David Williams, of Coalbrookdale, who died April 1866 aged 65 years: also of the above David Williams, who served at Waterloo, died April 22, 1878 in the 87th year of his life.”

Mr Blakeway said: “I feel it’s important to do this before it is gone completely. I am not aware of any surviving family.”

Sir Charles said Mr Williams enlisted in the Army on January 18, 1810, serving in Spain in the Duke of Wellington’s army and taking part in the Battle of Toulouse in 1814.

He was a gunner in G troop commanded by Captain Alexander Mercer when he fought in the Battle of Waterloo in 1815.

Anyone who wants to give a donation for the headstone can send it to Mr Blakeway at Barcli, Sambrook, Newport, TF10 8AX.