Towns unite for WWI hero (From Watford Observer)

Towns unite for WWI hero

7:08am Friday 23rd March 2007 in News

KINGS LANGLEY is set to be twinned with the French village of Achiet-le-Grand, after a ceremony was held there on Saturday to commemorate World War One hero Christopher Cox.

Christopher was a stretcher bearer with the 7th Battalion of the Bedford Regiment and took part in an attack on German defences south of the French village, near Arras in northern France, on March 15, 1917.

He risked his own life to save others despite being surrounded by gunfire and was rewarded with Britain's highest military award, the Victoria Cross.

Now a permanent reminder of Christopher's actions has been unveiled in Achiet-le-Grand and one is also set to be unveiled in Kings Langley, Christopher's lifelong home, later this year.

More than 200 people from both sides of the English Channel turned out for the ceremony and Ian Cox, Christopher's son, said it was "a wonderful show."

He said: "I was overwhelmed with the generosity of the French people.

"They made us feel extremely welcome. It was really something out of this world.

"I thought it would be a small thing. When I looked around and saw everybody it was absolutely marvellous."

Ian, from Abbots View, added: "I was a little bit emotional at the occasion.

"It's such a big honour for my father but also for his comrades and those who didn't make it back again.

"I was extremely pleased to represent my family."

Talks are now going ahead to link the two villages.

Councillor Gerry Angiolini, who led the Kings Langley effort for a memorial to Christopher, said: "It would be quite a nice little touch, now we've got something in common."