Walter Parker V.C. Memorial Square, Stapleford.
News Item Added 16th October 2000

A ceremony was held at St. Helen's Church in Stapleford,Notts to honour 
L/Cpl Walter Parker VC., Royal Marine Light Infantry.
His daughter Connie Deville and her husband, Harold were present at the ceremony. 
A wreath was laid on the grave of L/Cpl Parker by Councillor Christine Wombwell. 
Flags were lowered over the grave by the local Ex-Servicemens Associations News Item Added 21st June 2003 
Reported by 'Advertiser and News,' (Long Eaton and District) on May 29th,2003.




Queen Mother in Tribute to nation's medal heroes
News Item Added 14th June 2001


VC and GC Dedication at Westminster Abbey
News Item Added 15th June 2003

Dedication to Speakman-Pitts VC
William Speakman-Pitts VC attended a ceremony, on 20th May 2003, dedicating a bridge in his name,
where he unveiled a plaque. The bridge is a fly-over linking the Woodlands and Stockport Roads.

Charles Hudsons VC Presented to Sherwood Foresters Museum
News item added 15th June 2003

'Friends' prevent Victoria Cross Award
Trooper Finney was prevented from being awarded the Victoria Cross, for outstanding courage, 
because he wasn't in action against the enemy. His act of courage took place under
'friendly fire' from American Aircraft during the Gulf War II.
They were in a five vehicle patrol close to Basra, Iraq, when they were attacked 
by American A 10, 'Tank Buster' Aircraft. Although the Chevron markings and Identifying
marks should have been clearly visible, to the pilots, they commenced their attack.
Trooper Finney's vehicle was hit and he clambered out, but instead of heading for safety
he turned back to save his comrade who was both trapped and injured. After freeing him
and attending to his wounds, he returned a second time to radio Headquarters and report
the attack. He saw the aicraft were ready to make another strike, so he went back for a 
third time to help a colleague trapped in a burning vehicle.
     Trooper Finney says that he was proud of what he did, not in a conceited way, 
but he wished that he'd never been in that position in the first place. His mother Sharon Finney,
obviously proud of her son, said that they'd recieved hints that he would be decorated, but they 
never dreamt that it would be the George Cross.
There is no doubt that he would have been awarded the Victoria Cross had the attack been by the Iraqis.
News item added 31st October 2003.

Canine VC Awarded
It was announced, in the first week of December, that 'Busker', a 6 year old cocker spaniel, had been 
awarded the canine equivelent of the VC. The award was for bravery and devotion to duty.
  Busker had uncovered a caché of Iraqi weapons and stores hidden in the sand.
Busker's persistance at the spot caused his handler to call for its investigation. The weapons were 
revealed after excavation.
It is believed that Busker is the 6th Dog to be awarded this Honour.
News item added 18th December 2003.

David Harvey Dies.
On the 4th March 2004, David Harvey, the author of Monuments to Courage, died at the age of 57. 
He was born in East Ham, his father being a grocer, but they moved, later, to Molesey in Surrey. 
After leaving Hinckley Wood School, Surrey, he worked as a salesman before meeting and marrying Ruth Ward, 
with whom he had a son and two daughters. They divorced in 1979. 
In 1969, joined the Metropolitan Police, later joining the Mounted Division. 
It was his interest in the charge of the Light Brigade that led him, during his research, to an interest 
in the Victoria Cross recipients and their graves . One day he discovered the grave of an officer who 
had taken part in the Light Brigades charge at Balaclava. This caused him to search for further graves 
of the participants of that charge that had managed to return to their home country. In all he traced 
370 of their graves.
1980 saw him in America teaching the art of English style riding and jumping. Later becoming the 
jumping coach for the US Junior Olympic team. On his return to Britain he spent a short time as a
grave digger before returning to the police force.
After his return to England he organised Battlefield Tours. It was during one of these tours in 1992, 
his 40th, whilst revisiting the battlefields of the Somme, that he was hit by a drunken driver, 
leaving him a paraplegic.
 In 1999, after the publication of the two volumes of his excellent book, "Monuments to Courage," 
he decided to move to Montrose, Scotland, where unfortunately his health began to deteriorate. 
It became necessary to amputate his leg.
David Harvey was befriended by Eric Charles Twelves Wilson VC, with whom he corresponded on a 
regular basis.
Researchers like my team and myself, will appreciate that David's research into the VC's graves saved us hours 
of strenuous searching the archives.

First VC of Second World War Dies
Captain Richard Annand, the first person to be awarded the Victoria Cross in the Second World War died
on 24th December 2004 at the grand old age of 90 years. He was not the first one to be Gazetted in
World War II, but his action was the first. In 1979 his wife and he attended a dinner on board
the naval frigate HMS Bacchante, as guests of the Captain when Mrs Annand, turning to admire the ship, 
fell into the quayside. With courage shown 40 years earlier at La Tombe, Captain Annand immediately dived
into the water and supported his wife until help arrived. Asked how she was, Mrs Annand replied that she was 
all right, but that her fur coat would never quite be the same.