Restored Folkestone VC graves blessed
The Kent graves of two Victoria Cross holders have been rededicated following a restoration project.
About £3,400 was raised to repair the headstones of Sir John Edmund Commerell and Capt William Alexander Kerr at the cemetery in Cheriton, Folkestone.
Ian Loftus of the Royal British Legion started the campaign to get the graves restored in March 2010.
The work was completed earlier this year and relatives of the men attended a service on Thursday.
Sir John, who was later Admiral of the Fleet, was awarded the Victoria Cross for gallantry in the face of the enemy when he was a commander in the Royal Navy in the Crimean War in 1855.
Capt Kerr received the honour for his actions in Kolapore, India in 1857.
Mr Loftus, who is a member of the Cheriton and Morehall Royal British Legion, said: "In January 2010 I brought it to the attention of our branch that the graves of two Victoria Cross holders were in a severe state of repair and needed urgent work to have them restored.
"I set about a project to raise money to have the work carried out, I successfully raised the money with the help of Lord Howard of Lympne who was the MP for Folkestone and Hythe at that time."