THE crowds defied the rain and wind to witness the unveiling of a statue to commemorate the life of Herefordshire’s only Victoria Cross recipient.

September 21 marks 100 years to the day that Lance Corporal Allan Leonard Lewis VC was killed in action during the final allied push to break the German Hindenburg Line, at the age of 23.

The Victoria Cross was presented to his parents by H.M King George V at Buckingham Palace in April 1919.

100 years on, Allan's great niece, Dawn Lewis, chair of the AL Lewis Memorial Fund, saw the statue unveiled at the Old Market after 18 months of hard work and fundraising.

She said: "I wanted the statue to stand out because he never got to wear the medal in life.

"He is going to wear it forever now.

"I hope he is looking down and thinking, 'I've done it, I've got it now'."

The statue was designed by Jemma Pearson, and was unveiled by Her Majesty's Lord Lieutenant of Herefordshire, The Dowager Countess of Darnley.

A prayer of dedication was given by the Very Revd Michael Tavinor, while an exhortation was provided by Allan's great, great nephew George Chatfield.

Before the official unveiling took place at the Old Market, a plaque was dedicated to Allan in the Lady Arbour at Hereford Cathedral on behalf of the nation.