A SOLDIER honoured for his bravery one hundred years ago has been celebrated once again with the unveiling of a new memorial.

Tom Fletcher Mayson, of Silecroft, was given the Victoria Cross for his heroic actions during an attack on the German lines at Wieltje in Belgium, 1917.

On Sunday July 30, almost a century after the incident which saw the villager tackle a machine-gun wielding opponent, he was given his own carved memorial stone.

Trudy Harrison, MP for Copeland attended the ceremony led by Rev Gill Hart, held at Silecroft war memorial.

She said: " It was an honour to share this WW1 stone laying service with the late Thomas Mayson's family, friends and Armed Forces community, celebrating 'our lad's' gallantry, recognised at the highest level with the prestigious Victoria Cross.

"The Service was very well organised, supported and attended - hearing accounts of Tom's bravely and tales of his life in Silecroft was very heartwarming.

100 years ago: Major British offensive begins to take Passchendaele

"Such services help us to remember those who have gone before us, fighting for our freedoms and our current Forces personnel, for whom we are incredibly grateful."

Lance Sergeant Mayson was born at the John Bull pub, Silecroft, on November 3, in 1893 and joined the 1/4th Battalion of King’s Own Royal (Lancaster) Regiment on November 16, 1914.

The former farm labourer first went to France in May 1915 and by 1917 had been wounded twice and promoted to corporal, then lance-sergeant.

Details of his VC award were published in the government’s newspaper, the London Gazette, of September 14, 1917.

The paper described Mr Mayson's "conspicuous bravery and devotion to duty" during an attack on his platoon in which he tackled a machine-gun single-handed and killed six German soldiers.

"He displayed throughout the most remarkable valour and initiative," it said.

The stone laying ceremony was part of a national programme of events to mark the centenary of individual First World War VC awards.

The Victoria Cross is Britain’s highest award for valour and just over 600 were awarded to the six million who served during the war.

Tom Fletcher Mayson died at North Lonsdale Hospital, Barrow in 1958, aged 64, and was buried at St Mary’s churchyard, Whicham, with full military honours.

His medals are displayed at the regimental museum in Lancaster.

More like this: All the Passchendaele names: The price paid in Barrow, Dalton, Ulverston and Millom lives 100 years ago