THE relatives of a First World War hero today (Friday, May 15) spoke of the bonds of friendship that exists between them and the family of the officer their descendant rescued 100 years ago.

The grandchildren of Victoria Cross (VC) holder Private Thomas Kenny still remain in touch with relatives of Lieutenant Philip Brown, who Pte Kenny carried wounded through No Man’s Land under fire in November 1915. The officer sadly died shortly after the rescue.

Tricia Shaw and her cousin David Beresford were at the official launch of the exhibition For Valour, at the DLI Museum and Durham Art Gallery, in Durham. The display tells the stories of the 10 men who were born in the county, or served with the Durham Light Infantry, and received the VC for their actions during the conflict.

Born in South Wingate, east Durham, Pte Kenny was a miner when he enlisted in 1914.

He went to the rescue of Lt Brown, who had been shot through both thighs. Pte Kenny carried him for more than an hour through thick fog and while under fire, before he was able to fetch help from the frontline.

Pte Kenny said to the officer: “As long as there is life in you I stay by your side and the Lord will protect me and give me strength to get you into our lines.”

He was heartbroken to hear that Lt Brown had died two hours after reaching safety.

Pte Kenny received his VC from King George V at Buckingham Palace in March 1916. He was instantly recognised by Lt Brown’s mother, through descriptions she had heard from her son.

A friendship was forged that has lasted to this day.

Mrs Shaw said: “They kept in touch with my mother for years and she actually went out to India between the wars to be a nanny to Philip Brown’s brother.

“It was there that my mother met my father, Charles Matthews, who was serving in India. He died of pneumonia after returning from Dunkirk during the Second World War - when I was only six months old.”

She added: “I used to visit my grandfather in the summers and remember him being very loving and bouncing me on his knee and singing to me. I was only eight when he died.”

Mrs Shaw still wears a DLI badge bearing the name of Lt Brown.

“His mother had it made in memory of him and when she died Lt Brown’s sister sent it to my mother saying that is where she felt it should go,” said Mrs Shaw.

Also present today were relatives of 2nd Lt Frederick Youens, who during the Third Battle of Ypres, in 1917 fearlessly picked up an unexploded bomb that had fallen among his comrades and threw it out of the British trenches.

Shortly afterwards, another bomb fell near the same place. He again tried to throw the bomb out of the trench, but it exploded in his hand, fatally wounding him. He was posthumously awarded the VC.

At the heart of the exhibition are seven specially inscribed paving stones commemorating the VC recipients, who were born in County Durham.

They will eventually be laid in the town or village where the soldier was born or brought up.

The stone commemorating Pte Kenny’s bravery will be the first to leave the exhibition and be placed in his home town on November 4, 2015 – exactly 100 years after his tremendous act of bravery.

The exhibition was formally opened by Sue Snowdon, the Lord Lieutenant of Durham, and Cllr John Robinson, chairman of Durham County Council and Mayor of Durham.

Normal admission charges apply.

* The 10 VC recipients featured in the exhibition are: Pte Thomas Kenny, DLI; Lt Col Roland Bradford, DLI; Pte Michael Heaviside, DLI; Lt Cdr George Bradford, Royal Navy; Lt George McKean, Canadian Infantry; 2nd Lt John Youll, Northumberland Fusiliers; Sgt William McNally, Yorkshire Regiment; 2nd Lt Frederick Youens, DLI; 2nd Lt (Acting Capt) Arthur Moore Lascelles, DLI; Pte Thomas Young, DLI