Guardbridge group hopes to create memorial to war hero.

Trust wants a monument that does local hero David Finlay and others justice

A Fife community group has bid for funding to create a stunning war memorial.

It will commemorate the end of the First World War and honour the village’s Victoria Cross hero David Finlay.

Guardbridge Community Development Trust hopes others will get behind its bid to the Aviva Community Fund and vote for the project to obtain £25,000 to establish the memorial.

The current memorial has been described as a “cobbled-together” monument stone in an “out-of-the-way park”. There is another small tribute plinth to Mr Finlay.

An interactive memorial, designed by local resident James Bradley, in the shape of a large First World War helmet with a trench wall is envisaged, featuring name plaques with a QR code against each, which can be scanned to give background to the individuals.

Trust chairman Bill Wilson said: “We feel the installation would bring a focal point for the community remembrance of both wars, could involve the local schoolchildren and ‘lest we forget’ bring history alive.

“In essence it would preserve and enhance the village’s past in order to promote the future.”

The trust has asked St Andrews University, which now owns the local paper mill, to use a piece of land it owns as the location for the new memorial.

Anyone wishing to show their support can visit https://community-fund.aviva. co.uk/voting/project/view/17-1305.

On May 9 1915 near Rue du Bois, France, Lance-Corporal Finlay led a bombing party of 12 men in the attack until 10 of them had fallen.

He then ordered the two survivors to crawl back as he went to the aid of a wounded man and carried him over 100 yards of fire-swept ground into cover.

Finlay was later promoted to sergeant but was killed in action in what is now Iraq on January 21 1916.