VC memorial unveiled by Princess

Princess Anne unveiled the memorial in Dunorlan Park

A memorial sculpture commemorating 10 recipients of Britain's highest award for gallantry, the Victoria Cross, has been unveiled by the Princess Royal.

The sculpture, by Charles Gurney, was commissioned for Tunbridge Wells as part of the Kent town's 400th anniversary celebrations.

It is carved from Caithness stone and features lines from Poet Laureate Andrew Motion's poem Remembrance.

Among those commemorated are the first recipient of the VC, Charles Lucas.

Live shell

Crimean War veteran Lieut Lucas lived in Tunbridge Wells and is buried in the churchyard at St Lawrence's churchyard at the nearby village of Mereworth.

His VC was awarded after he picked up a live shell from the deck of his ship, the Hecla, in the Baltic and dropped it overboard.

He later moved up the ranks to become Captain, then Rear-Admiral on the retired list.

The memorial in Dunorlan Park, unveiled on Friday, also carries the names of nine other holders of the VC who had connections with Tunbridge Wells.

It is situated in a grove of 21 oak trees planted in the park for the 50th anniversary of Victory in Europe Day on 8 May, 1995.