Paving stones are to be installed to mark the 100th anniversaries of Cheltenham’s First World War Victoria Cross heroes. Three men from the borough who received the award will have commemorative stones placed at the war memorial outside the Municipal Offices.
A service to and commemorative stone laying for Cheltenham Victoria Cross recipient Lt Col Richard Annesley West to mark the 100th anniversary of the action for which the VC was awarded will be held at Cheltenham War Memorial on 2nd September. For further details please revisit our events calendar later in the year.
The stones have been provided to local authorities by the Department for Communities and Local Government, which last year ran a competition for the design of the stones. Across the country, each First World War VC recipient will have a stone, commemorating their efforts made one hundred years ago.
You can read more about the three Cheltonian Victoria Cross recipients by clicking the links below:
Captain Arthur Forbes Gordon Kilby of the South Staffordshire Regiment who died 25 September 1915.
Born at East Hayes, Pittville Circus Road, Cheltenham in 1885. Commissioned into the South Staffordshire Regiment after graduating from the Royal Military College Sandhurst. Capt Kilby was killed in action during the first day of The Battle of Loos on and awarded posthumous VC. His body was eventually found on 19th February 1929 and buried in the Arras Road Cemetery, Roclincourt, France. Captain Kilby was also awarded the Military Cross and was Mentioned in Despatches twice.
Captain Anketell Moutray Read of the Northamptonshire Regiment who died 25 September 1915
Born in Beaumont House, Shurdington Road, Cheltenham and educated at Glyngarth School Douro Road, Cheltenham, Capt Read was commissioned into the Gloucestershire Regiment in 1903 and served for some time in the Royal Flying Corps. He was killed in action at Loos whilst serving in the Northamptonshire Regiment and awarded a posthumous VC. He is buried in Dud Corner Cemetery, Loos, France.
Lieutenant Colonel Richard Annesley West of the North Irish Horse Regiment who died 21 August 1918.
Born in Oxford Street. After service as a trooper with the Imperial Yeomanry during the Boer War he remained in South Africa until 1914 when he returned home and was commissioned into the North Irish Horse. Killed in action at Courcelles, France on whilst commanding the 6th Battalion of the Tank Corps.
You can read more about other local VC recipients at http://www.remembering.org.uk/victoria_crosses.htm
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