..Victoria Cross ..

 ...The Victoria Cross is Britain's highest award for gallantry and was instituted in January 1856 ...

• Only 1,354 (including three bars to soldiers who have received the coveted decoration twice) have been awarded since its inception. 

 

• Eighty-one servicemen with Welsh connections have gained this highly prized decoration and the Victoria Cross shown here was awarded to Private John Williams VC 2/24th Foot for his actions at the defence of Rorke's Drift during the 1879 Anglo-Zulu war. 

 

• John Fielding (who served under the name John Williams) was born in Abergavenny, Monmouthshire, lived in Cwmbran, and is buried in Llantarnam Church graveyard.