Pride as soldiers honoured at Preston park (with video)
The remarkable tale of a brave soldier decorated with the Victoria Cross has come full circle.
Almost a century ago, King George V presented the VC to the widow of Pte William Young for his valiant efforts during the First World War.
On Tuesday, King George's grandson, the Duke of Gloucester, met two of Pte Young's granddaughters as a floral tribute to him and another Preston VC winner, Pte James Towers, was unveiled in Preston's Miller Park.
Margaret Brown, 68, who was joined by her cousin, Barbara Parker, 71, both grand-daughters of Pte Young, said: "I've always lived with it, but it's now become part of Preston's history and to be honoured with the floral tribute like this is glorious. We're very proud of our grandfather."
Father-of-nine Pte Young, who served with the 8th Battalion The East Lancashire Regiment, was awarded the Victoria Cross in 1915 after dragging his sergeant to safety under enemy fire in Fonquevillers in France, despite being hit by two bullets.
But he died the following August, aged 40, before he could receive it.
Instead, it was presented to his wife in December 1916 and is now on display in the Museum of Lancashire in Stanley Street, Preston.
Meanwhile, Pte Towers was awarded the VC for "most conspicuous bravery and devotion" while serving in France in 1918.
His daughter and grandmother-of-four Marion Castle, 82, who lives in Fulwood with husband Llewellyn, said: "My daughter Glynis asked them several times if they could do a memorial for her grandfather and eventually she wore them down. I'm glad to see there's something to recognise them.
"He wouldn't tell us any of the experiences he had in France or in the trenches. He wouldn't mention it at all."
The 2,500-plant floral display, known as the Preston Heroes, was the brainchild of the council's head gardener Alan Rampling and his assistant Brian McNeill and took two-and-a-half days to plant.
The Duke also visited neighbouring Avenham Park to open the award-winning pavilion.
>> Vote in our latest web poll
News Review map: Relive the top headlines of the year so far
Email to a friend
Print this page
Looking for...
Featured advertisers
Jobs
Search for a job
Motors
Search for a car
Property
Search for a house
Weather for Preston
Wednesday 23 May 2012
Today
Sunny spells
Temperature: 11 C to 18 C
Wind Speed: 13 mph
Wind direction: North west
Tomorrow
Sunny spells
Temperature: 14 C to 19 C
Wind Speed: 8 mph
Wind direction: North west
