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Victoria Cross soldiers to get home town honour

The design of the paving stones which will give home town recognition to soldiers awarded Britain's highest military honour for bravery has been unveiled.

Every recipient of the Victoria Cross for actions in the First World War will be honoured with the paving stone. The first will be laid in Willesden Green, north London in August 2014. https://www.gov.uk/government/news/winner-of-first-world-war-victoria-cross-paving-stone-design-competition-unveiled

Research so far has only identified two VC holders who were born on the Isle of Wight - both at Sandown.  The first was Harry Frederick Whitchurch born on the 22nd of September 1866 .  On the 3rd of March 1895 in India he  rescued an officer under intense enemy fire. Read his story at:  http://www.victoriacross.org.uk/bbwhitch.htm

The second was  Eric Charles Twelves Wilson who was born on the 2nd of October 1912.  He organised the defence of machine posts and manned them to the last in Somaliland. His VC was initially awarded posthumously until it was discovered that he had been captured by the enemy and taken to have his wounds attended before ending up in a prisoner of war camp. Read his citation here:    

The design of the paving stones which will give home town recognition to soldiers awarded Britain's highest military honour for bravery has been unveiled.

Every recipient of the Victoria Cross for actions in the First World War will be honoured with the paving stone. The first will be laid in Willesden Green, north London in August 2014. https://www.gov.uk/government/news/winner-of-first-world-war-victoria-cross-paving-stone-design-competition-unveiled

Research so far has only identified two VC holders who were born on the Isle of Wight - both at Sandown.  The first was Harry Frederick Whitchurch born on the 22nd of September 1866 .  On the 3rd of March 1895 in India he  rescued an officer under intense enemy fire. Read his story at:  http://www.victoriacross.org.uk/bbwhitch.htm

The second was  Eric Charles Twelves Wilson who was born on the 2nd of October 1912.  He organised the defence of machine posts and manned them to the last in Somaliland. His VC was initially awarded posthumously until it was discovered that he had been captured by the enemy and taken to have his wounds attended before ending up in a prisoner of war camp. Read his citation here:         http://www.queensroyalsurreys.org.uk/vc/vc17.html

Thus neither won their VC in the First World War and so will not be given a VC stone - at least initially.

There are five other VC holders who are associated with the Isle of Wight but not born here.

When the Unknown Warrior was buried in Westminster Abbey on the 11th of November 1920 the guard of honour comprised 100 Victoria Cross holders.  There are currently 9 VC holders alive world wide.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_living_Victoria_Cross_recipients

 

All First World War VC recipients can be seen here: 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_First_World_War_Victoria_Cross_recipients

   http://www.queensroyalsurreys.org.uk/vc/vc17.html

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