A PAVING stone plaque is to be unveiled in Worcester next week to commemorate one of Worcester's almost forgotten heroes of the First World War.

Although born in the city, George Harry Wyatt did not join the local Worcestershire Regiment but the Coldstream Guards and was serving with them when he won the Victoria Cross for his extreme bravery on the night of August 25/26,1914.

The commemorative paving stone outside the Guildhall in High Street is part of a national programme in which local authorities honour their local VC winners. The ceremony at 3pm on Tuesday, August 26 will be carried out by Councillor David Wilkinson, City Council cabinet member for safer and stronger communities. He said: "This will be a truly historic occasion where we can come together and commemorate the courageous actions of a soldier born in Britannia Road. The Victoria Cross is the most prestigious military award and it is an opportunity to mark the bravery of our very own World War One hero.”

Wyatt was born on September 5, 1896. By the outbreak of the First World War he was serving as a police officer in Doncaster and left for France on August 14, 1914 as a member of the British Expeditionary Force. Within a month he had won the Victoria Cross when he risked his life by saving his Battalion from burning farm buildings, which were set alight by the Germans during heavy fire. A couple of days later he demonstrated his extraordinary courage again, when, although shot in the head and with blood pouring down his face, he continued to return fire to protect his colleagues. Upon receiving the Victoria Cross, Wyatt modestly said:“I just did as I was told. I got hit in the head and went on firing. That's all."

He was also awarded the Cross of the Order of St George by Russia for his "undaunted courage".

After the war George Wyatt returned to police service in Doncaster before retiring in 1934 and taking up farming. He died in 1964 aged 77 and is buried at Cadeby, near Doncaster.