THE sun shone down on Gheluvelt Park as members of the Worcestershire Regiment honoured a First World War officer.

The ceremony, held at the Worcestershire Regiment Memorial Stone on Saturday, remembered 2nd Lieutenant John James Crowe.

Arthur Turner, a member of Worcestershire and Sherwood Foresters Regimental Association, laid a wreath before a citation remembering his bravery, was read out by Val Easterlow.

The citation said: "For most conspicuous bravery, determination, and skilful leading when the enemy, for the third time having attacked a post in a village, broke past on to the high ground and established a machine gun and snipers in the broken ground at the back of the village.

"Crowe twice went forward with two non-commissioned officers and seven men to engage the enemy, both times in face of active machine-gun fire and sniping.

"His action was so daring that on each occasion the enemy withdrew from the high ground into the village, where 2nd Lt. Crowe followed them and himself opened fire upon the enemy as they collected in the doorways of the houses.

"On the second occasion, taking with him only two men of his party, he attacked two enemy machine guns which were sweeping the post, killed both the gunners with his rifle, and prevented any others from reaching the guns and bringing- them into action again.

"He then turned-upon a party of the enemy who were, lined up in front of him, killed several, and the remainder withdrew at once. He captured both the guns, one of which was the battalion Lewis gun which had been captured by the enemy on the previous day.

"Throughout the seven days of operations 2nd Lt. Crowe showed an utter disregard of danger and was recklessly brave."

The last post was played before standards were lowered by Nick Tyler, Alan Fish and Allan Poyner and a minute's silence was held.

Laurence Binyon's famous poem, For the Fallen, was also read out by former Parade Marshall Maurice Smith.

Parade Marshall John Walters said: “We have had nice weather for it and it has been very successful.

“We are here to celebrate exactly what 2nd Lieutenant John James Crowe did in the First World War.

He added: "You realise what they must have gone through – they must have been petrified.

"You just can’t imagine it."

2nd Lieutenant John James Crowe, who was later promoted to captain, received the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry, in 1918 by King George V.