Doncaster's 'magnificent seven' Victoria Cross heroes to be honoured
The free event takes place at the Corn Exchange
Doncaster’s wartime heroes are to be honoured with a special city centre ceremony and exhibition celebrating their bravery.
The Victoria Cross Trust has announced a special exhibition at the Corn Exchange to pay tribute to seven local men awarded Britain's highest military honuor for gallantry, the Victoria Cross.
Supported by City of Doncaster Council, this free event takes place on Tuesday 10 November where the public is invited to attend from 10am – 4.30pm.
Mayor of Doncaster, Ros Jones, said: “On the eve of Remembrance, this special event gives us an opportunity to reflect and give thanks to the brave soldiers who fought for our country.
“Doncaster’s seven Victoria Cross recipients came from all walks of life and I hope many people, young and old, will take this opportunity to find out more about them and their most significant roles during two world wars.”
The event will include displays of Victoria Cross heritage, artefacts and history.
Local historians will be on hand to speak about Doncaster’s history, along with patron Rusty Firmin SAS who led a team during Operation Nimrod into the Iranian Embassy to release hostages being held there in 1980.
Want more stories like this? Click here to get our daily newsletter
Keith Lumley, Chair of Trustees, said: “As a former town Doncaster has the highest number of Victoria Cross recipients and this is the first event of its kind to be held here.
“This event will provide an opportunity to sustain the preservation of remembering these men and share the work we do.”
The Victoria Cross Trust undertakes the restoration and maintenance of the graves and memorials of Victoria Cross recipients and also works with local schools and organisations.
There will be an opportunity to find out more about their work, give donations and purchase remembrance related merchandise at the event.
The exhibition will spotligh seven ordinary Doncaster residents who displayed extraordinary bravery in the face of the enemy.
They are
- George Harry Wyatt VC: A former police constable.
- Gilbert Insall VC MC: A military pilot.
- Laurence Calvert VC: A haulage hand in civilian life.
- Thomas Norman Jackson VC: A locomotive engineer who was killed in action.
- William Hackett VC: A tunneller who was killed in action.
- John Harper VC: A peat digger who was killed in action.
- Thomas Bryan VC: A local greengrocer.
For more details visit www.victoriacrosstrust.org.