VC heroes from Kidderminster will have names immortalised in stone
Two First World War heroes from Kidderminster who were awarded the Victoria Cross – the highest military honour – are to have their names commemorated in paving stones.
The Department for Communities and Local Government has announced national plans for paving stones to honour recipients of the VC 100 years after the start of hostilities.
John Young earned his Victorian Cross as a stretcher bearer with the Canadian Forces.
On September 2 in 1918 in the Dury-Arras sector in France, when his company had suffered heavy casualties, Private Young went forward to dress the wounded in open ground being swept by machine-gun and rifle fire.
The soldier, who was born in Kidderminster in 1893, carried on tending the wounded for more than an hour, displaying absolute fearlessness. On more than one occasion, having used up all his stock of dressings, he made his way to company headquarters for a further supply before returning to the battlefield.
Later in the day he organised and led stretcher-bearers to bring in the wounded who he had tended and spent an hour rescuing more than a dozen men.
Another local man, Eustace Jotham, was an Indian Army officer born in Kidderminster. He was awarded the Victoria Cross for most conspicuous bravery on January 7, 1915, at Spina Khaisora, in the Tochi Valley. During operations against the Khostwal tribesmen, Captain Jotham was commanding a party of about a dozen of the North Waziristan Militia.
They were attacked in a steep narrow valley and almost surrounded by an overwhelming force of about 1,500 tribesmen.
He gave the order to retire and could have made his escape but gallantly sacrificed his own life by attempting to rescue one of his men who had lost his horse.
Councillor Fran Oborski, chairman of Wyre Forest District Council, said: "We will be doing some work over the coming months to consider the best locations that will ensure that people see the commemorative stones."
