A BARROW soldier who lit fuse bombs with his cigarettes for 41 hours as they battled against Turkish forces at Gallipoli is to be honoured in his home town this weekend.

Lieutenant William Forshaw is one of hundreds of brave soldiers awarded the Victoria Cross during the First World War.

In August 2013, Communities Secretary Eric Pickles announced a nationwide campaign to honour those who received Britain’s highest military award. Commemorative paving stones will be laid in their place of birth or where they lived following the war.

On Sunday, one will be laid in Barrow Park, halfway up the hill leading to the cenotaph, to honour the bravery of Lt Forshaw, who lived in Sutherland Street, Barrow.

From August 7 to 9 1915, Lt Forshaw held a section of the trenches at the “Vineyard” battlefield, throwing bombs continuously for 41 hours and encouraging his men through his gallantry and cool leadership under fire.

He became widely known as the “Cigarette VC”, because he chain-smoked through the battle, in order to light bomb fuses from his cigarette.

Keith Johnson, Barrow Borough Council’s assistant director of community services, said that there had been a number of meetings with interested parties to decide the best location for the paving stone The meetings have included the Duke of Lancaster’s Regiment, the Old Barrovian’s Association, staff from the Dock Museum and the archive service, local historians and councillors.

Mr Johnson said that the paving stone would be set in a spectacular floral bed halfway up the hill from the main Abbey Road gates to the cenotaph.

There will be an unveiling ceremony on Sunday, August 9 .

Mr Johnson said: “We have been in contact with Lt Forshaw’s living relatives to ensure that they were happy with what had been proposed.

“I am pleased to report that a number of them intend to travel to Barrow for the unveiling ceremony.

“In addition to the unveiling ceremony, the Dock Museum is hoping to acquire on loan a number of interesting items about Lt Forshaw.

“These will include his medal, commemorative sword and scabbard, casket, books signed by him and a painting from the Manchester Regiment’s Museum. These items could be put on display for the whole of August.”

Mr Johnson added: “We are delighted to be able to commemorate Lt Forshaw’s bravery.

“We know that Lt Forshaw was a proud Barrovian who never forgot his home town.”

Borough councillor, Frank Cassidy, has been liaising with Lt Forshaw’s great-nephew Frank Wilcox, who loves in Blackpool.

He said: “You really couldn’t make it up. It’s a story straight out of the Boy’s Own paper and Lt Forshaw fully deserves his paving stone.”

Lt Forshaw was invested with his VC by King George V on October 18,1915. Barrow honoured its hero on October 27, the same year.

Thousands of people lined the streets to cheer the hero on as he made his way through Barrow in triumphant procession.

After the Great War he served in India before working as a teacher in the Ipswich area.

A private school he launched was not a success and he was served with a bankruptcy order.

On May 26, 1943 Lt Forshaw died from a heart attack while cutting a hedge at his house in Maidenhead, Berkshire. He was 53.

The war hero was buried in a small churchyard at Touchen End, near Bray.