THE heroism of the soldiers of the Green Howards will be recounted later this week.

The regiment won 18 Victoria Crosses, 16 of which are displayed at its museum in Richmond, North Yorkshire.

Roger Chapman, from the museum, will describe the development of the Victoria Cross using examples of Green Howards' winners in a talk at the dli, formerly the DLI Museum and Durham Art Gallery, on Saturday.

The Victoria Cross is the most coveted and respected gallantry decoration in Britain with all recipients held in the highest esteem.

It was created in 1856 as an award to soldiers and sailors for "some signal act of valour or devotion to their country".

Mr Chapman said: "But those early VC awards in the Crimea and Indian Mutiny can in no way be compared to those awarded in World War One and World War Two. In particular, I'll be looking at a County Durham man, Sergeant Billy McNally, from Murton, who gained three bravery awards - the Victoria Cross plus the Military Medal and Bar during World War One.

"His VC was awarded for his bravery in Italy in 1918.

"Of the 18 Green Howards' VCs, 12 were awarded posthumously. I'll be telling the story of Margaret Atkinson, from Leeds, who, after her son, Sergeant Alfred Atkinson, was killed in South Africa in 1900, struggled for two years to get her son the very first posthumous VC."

Steve Shannon, of the dli, said he thought the talk would "be of great interest to our visitors".

The talk starts at 2pm and tickets cost £3.50 (concessions £2.50) and £1.50 for season ticket holders.

They are available at the door or in advance