2003 – whilst researching my family history I found that I had a relative, Anthony Clarke Booth, who was awarded the Victoria Cross for his actions in 1879. The Staffordshire Regimental Museum at Whittington Barracks gave me great support when I was invited to see all the papers they had on file of my ancestor, and gave me permission to use them for my book I was writing about him. During my research I found that almost nothing was known about him in Nottingham. Everyone knew about Albert Ball. I decided to remedy this by writing a book about him which subsequently went to many places throughout the world. I also wrote a full page article for the Nottingham Evening Post.

2005 – I decided then to bring the memory of other forgotten Victoria Cross holders to the attention of the public. I researched Samuel Harvey, wrote a booklet on him and once again a full page article appeared in the Evening Post on the 27th march 2006. I did the same with William Hacket, this was published in the Evening Post on July 27th 2006. and James Upton which the Evening Post published in October 4th 2006. Each booklet went to various places throughout the world, and a full page article appeared in the Evening Post. This carried on until 2006. Andy Smart, of the Nottingham Evening Post was most supportive in my efforts in printing the research of these V.Cs. in the Nottingham Evening Post.

As a result of all this publicity I had a call from the Caffrey family. They asked for my advice. They had a Victoria Cross holder in the family who didn’t have a headstone to mark his grave. I set about contacting various organisations including the Victoria Cross Association who gave me a donation to start a fund on behalf of the Caffrey family. I wrote a booklet on him, and the Evening Post published an article on him on May 27th 2006. Months of fund raising single handedly, the Caffrey headstone was erected at a special ceremony held at Wilford Hill Cemetery on 23rd May 2007. Once again the Evening Post helped with publicity. The ceremony was attended by John Allin, Chairman of Nottingham County Council. Present were the members of the Stonemasons who made and had erected the headstone.

As I was not a Military Historian, only a local historian, I did find it quite hard to research these men. I had some help from relatives, which I met, who gave valuable information on them. Sean Westerby, John Caffrey’s Great nephew was most supportive. At the end of the day, I was most appreciative of the phone calls, letters and E Mails praising my efforts.

I later received a telephone call in June from a person who’s  interest was in World War I,  had started researching Victoria Cross holders. He asked me if I’d heard of Robert Humpston. I told him that Robert Humpston was to be my next project. He asked if we could meet and he came to my house. He asked if I would mind if he organised the memorial for Robert Humpston and I agreed instantly. I was glad that someone else was taking an interest. I gave over all the information and contacts I had built up over the years and said that I would be happy to help in any way that I could, which is what I did.

Robert Humpston’s memorial ceremony took place on the 8th September 2007. Sadly, the date was changed and I was unable to attend.

2008 – Next, he organised a memorial for another Victoria Cross holder, Charles Ernest Garforth. I helped to get a donation from the Victoria Cross Society, through my previous connections with them and also as the relative of a Victoria Cross holder, I also donated £50 to help kick-start his fund for Charles Garforth. The memorial ceremony took place on 30th August 2008.

2009 – As a result, we held the first meeting at his house in Bingham Notts,  on the 18th February. We both decided that we had a common aim to erect a memorial to all the twenty Victoria Cross holders from Nottingham and Notinghamshire, and we both agreed we should form a committee. He said that I should be a Joint Chairman or project leader with him, I disagreed because I thought a proper committee should have a Chairman and Secretary so that each person knew exactly what their responsibilities were. I agreed to be Secretary, because being retired, I had more time for the role. He agreed to be the Chairman. We formed a committee with a Treasurer and three committee members, and called ourselves, The Nottingham and Nottinghamshire Victoria Committee, and on the first meeting of the committee, it was agreed that the posts of Chairman, Secretary, Treasurer and committee members were agreed the persons named.

For personal reasons, I have since resigned from the committee but I hope it will continue its work to achieve recognition for all Nottinghamshire’s Victoria Cross heroes.

I am very proud to have inspired and launched the project, especially as it is a subject which is so close to my heart. I am proud to think that I through my writings in the Nottingham Evening Post of the my relative, and the other four Victoria Cross hoders, and the Headstone erected for John Caffery V.C. that a permanent Memorial is now to be placed in the Nottingham Castle, near the statue of world War I fighter ace, Albert Ball V.C.