The Victoria Cross was created in 29 January 1856 and is hand-made from bronze cannon captured from the Russians at the siege of Sevastopol in 1854-55 during the Crimean War.

BBC: VC hero L/Cpl James Ashworth 'supremely courageous'

Among the famous actions highlighted is the story of the nine men of the 24th Regiment of Foot, who won the Victoria Cross for their defence of the supply depot at Rorke's Drift in 1879 - the greatest number of VCs ever awarded for a single battle.

BBC: Prince Charles begins week-long tour of Wales

At just 25 and while serving as a lieutenant, he became the first Welshman in World War II to be awarded the Victoria Cross, Britain's highest honour for gallantry, for an assault on a German machine-gun post in northern France.

BBC: War hero Sir Tasker Watkins dies