Judges to pick design for Victoria Cross commemoration

Seven experts have been announced as judges of the Victoria Cross paving stone competition.

The competition saw schoolchildren from across the UK enter their design for the first paving stone commemorating recipients of Britain’s highest military award, the Victoria Cross.

Over 400 paving stones will be placed in recipients' hometowns across the UK to mark the centenary of the First World War.

The laying of the stones will be staggered between 2014 and 2018 so that the stone is set exactly 100 years after medal was awarded.

Among the experts judging the designs is Lance Sergeant Johnson Beharry who was awarded the Victoria Cross in 2005 the first living recipient of Victoria Cross for 30 years.

Also on the panel is ‘Birdsong’ author Sebastian Faulks and Lord Ashcroft, who holds the worlds’ largest collection of Victoria Crosses.

The other panel members are made up of historians and representives form the Imperial War Museum and National Trust.

Seven men from Devon were awarded the Victoria Cross during their service in World War One.

They are: Thomas Sage from Tiverton, John Crowe and Arnold Waters from Plymouth, John Smythe from Teignmouth, Richard Sandford from Exmouth, Arthur Harrison from Torquay and Theodore Hardy from Exeter.

Each will have a paving stone to commemorate their achievements placed on the date they were awarded the medal.