VICTORIA CROSS PAVING STONES

As part of the UK Government’s national campaign to mark the centenary of the First World War, named paving stones were made and laid at places of significance for the 628 British servicemen who received the highest military award for courage while in contact with the enemy. Naturally, not all such recipients lost their lives in either the VC action or neither were they later killed on active service but, instead, survived the war. Thus, it was not always appropriate to place these stones at or near town or village memorials. Instead, these were placed near the recipient’s homes or at places that were significant in their lives.

Illustrated here is the paving stone to Company Sergeant Major Nelson Carter VC who was born in Eastbourne, East Sussex, where his paving stone was erected in a bespoke memorial. Serving with 12th Bn Royal Sussex Regiment, his award was for action at Boar’s Head, Richeborg, France, on 30 June 1916. His citation stated:

‘During an attack, he was in command of the fourth wave of the assault. Under intense shell and machine gun fire he penetrated, with a few men, into the enemy’s second line and inflicted heavy casualties with bombs. When forced to retire to the enemy’s first line, he captured a machine gun and shot the gunner with his revolver. Finally, after carrying several wounded men into safety, he was himself mortally wounded and died in a few minutes. His conduct throughout the day was magnificent.’