{"id":62118,"date":"2015-09-25T10:36:00","date_gmt":"2015-09-25T10:36:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/mostafa.openonline.co.uk\/?guid=7075224722e276cd5b7fe963d56ae951"},"modified":"2015-09-25T10:36:00","modified_gmt":"2015-09-25T10:36:00","slug":"press-release-first-world-war-heroes-commemorated-as-britain-remembers-battle-of-loos","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/mostafa.openonline.co.uk\/?p=62118","title":{"rendered":"Press release: First World War heroes commemorated as Britain remembers Battle of Loos"},"content":{"rendered":"
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From Melrose in Scotland, to Greenwich in London, communities are coming together to pay their own special tributes 100 years on from one of the most devastating battles of the war \u2013 the Battle of Loos.<\/p>\n

Since the start of the centenary, a paving stone has been placed in the hometown of every soldier awarded the VC<\/abbr>, 100 years on from the date they received the award.<\/p>\n

So far more than 200 paving stones have been laid \u2013 including a permanent memorial at the National Memorial Arboretum for the 145 oversees-born recipients of the VC<\/abbr>.<\/p>\n

Communities Minister Baroness Williams said:<\/p>\n

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We owe the men and women who have served our country a huge debt of gratitude and Britain\u2019s First World War heroes are just as inspirational now as they were a century ago.<\/p>\n

Some were experienced officers, some barely out of school – but whatever their background, whatever their faith, every single one of them displayed incredible courage to fight for our liberty and our shared British values.<\/p>\n

The paving stone ceremonies, taking place now and over the course of the centenary, are a fitting tribute to their bravery and will encourage people to find out more about how their local areas contributed to the First World War.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

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This interactive feature<\/a> gives a background to the Victoria Cross paving stones competition and a history of the medals first awarded by Queen Victoria.<\/p>\n

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\"VC<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n

The design of the stones was selected from a public competition and includes the name of the soldier and regiment, along with the marking of the Victoria Cross. They are sited in locations visible to the public and the circular shape to inspire viewers to \u2018pause and remember\u2019.<\/p>\n

In August 2013, the Department for Communities and Local Government launched this campaign to honour all those awarded the Victoria Cross during the war.<\/p>\n

Biographies<\/h3>\n

The 20 Victoria Cross heroes being honoured in paving stone ceremonies are:<\/p>\n