Date now set for hero’s memorial
HISTORIC CEREMONY FOR NUNEATON VICTORIA CROSS RECIPIENT
A DATE has been set to honour Nuneaton’s heroic Victoria Cross recipient and people are being urged to join in the historic ceremony.
It has been revealed that the incredible efforts by Cecil Knox will be etched in the borough’s history on Thursday, March 22 when a special memorial in his name will be unveiled.
As previously reported, in the year that marks the anniversary of the end of World War I, the paving stone will be placed in Riversley Park, near to the existing memorials.
Poignantly it also falls in the year which marks the centenary of when Second Lieutenant Knox received what is the highest award in the United Kingdom honours system from King George V.
Nuneaton and Bedworth’s Mayor councillor Bill Hancox will be at the stone laying ceremony and he encouraged others to go along. “It is a great honour to pay tribute to Cecil Knox; we owe an immense debt of gratitude to him and others who fought for our freedom and it’s wonderful to have a permanent reminder in Riversley Park,” the borough’s first citizen said. “In laying the stone for Cecil, we will not only honour his exceptional bravery but also pay tribute to all our service men and women who continue to keep us safe.” The ceremony, which will pay tribute to the soldier who showed unimaginable gallantry when he was entrusted with destroying 12 bridges along the Somme Canal to halt the German advance, will take place at noon. It was back in 2014 when it was revealed that there would be a programme championed by the government to honour Victoria Cross recipients. Cecil Knox is not the only Nuneaton resident to receive the prestigious Victoria Cross. So did William Beasley, however, as he was born in Staffordshire, it is understood that his plaque will be installed in his hometown and not Nuneaton .
It is a great honour to pay tribute to Cecil Knox; we owe him an immense debt of gratitude. Mayor Bill Hancox