A LIFE-SIZE statue of the county's only First World War Victorian Cross awardee will be placed in Hereford if £60,000 can be raised.

Lance-Corporal Allan Lewis was 23 years old when he paid the ultimate sacrifice in September 1918 at Rossnoy, in France, during the Battle of Épehy.

He was in command of a section during a push against the German outpost positions in front of the Hindenburg Line, when he crawled forward alone and successfully bombed two guns with grenades, he continued the attack with rifle fire and made the machine gun nests surrender.

He was killed three days later, on that fateful day he had rushed his company through an enemy barrage, but was killed while getting his men under cover from heavy machine-gun fire.

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

He has no known grave, but is commemorated on the Vis-en-Artois Memorial in France and on the war memorials at both Whitney on Wye, which his father carved, and Brilley Churches.

Now his great niece Dawn Lewis is leading a campaign to build a life-size bronze statue of L/Cpl Lewis and is encouraging everybody in Herefordshire to donate 32 pence each towards the cause.

The statues position in Hereford is yet to be confirmed.

Gareth Pugh, secretary of the Allan Leonard Lewis VC Memorial Fund said: "The figure of 32p comes from the cost of the statue divided by the estimated population of Herefordshire.

"The idea of a lot giving a little to honour this man has resonated amongst the donors to date as none have given less. It is hoped that we can raise the bulk of the funding through appealing to the good folk of the county to all give a little.

"This will then allow them to own a part of the statue and perhaps relate to their children the story of the man. In that way he will not be forgotten or will the others that died in the Great War."

The statue will be created by artist Jemma Pearson, who sculpted the statue of Elgar which stands in the grounds of Hereford Cathedral.

Hereford Mayor Sharon Michael launched the fundraising effort this week by donating her 32 pence towards the cause at Whitney on Wye church.

She said: "This is another story of Herefordshire's history and one that is relatively unknown by many.

"I hope people will get behind the 32p campaign and enough money is raised for this statue."

Hay & District Royal British Legion recently visited the Vis-en-Artois Memorial and left a wreath for L/Cpl Lewis.

Donations can be made online at: www.justgiving.com/campaigns/charity/lewisvcmemorial/lewisvcmemorialfund.

Cheques can be made payable to the A L Lewis VC Memorial Fund and posted to: 38, The Meadows, Hay-on-Wye, Hereford, HR3 5LF.

Or pay directly into their bank account: A L Lewis VC Memorial Fund, sort code: 20-45-45 and account number: 50445428.

For more information email: lewisvcmemorialfund@gmail.com.