A HISTORIAN has compiled a personal tribute to a First World War hero ahead of a commemoration event

Olive Linge’s pictorial journey through the life of George Burdon McKean focuses on the lesser known side of the Victoria Cross holder, the man behind the medals. The display is now on show in Willington Library, at the heart of Mrs Linge’s and McKean’s hometown. It precedes the official unveiling of a memorial stone dedicated to McKean outside of the building on Saturday at 11am.

Born in Willington in 1888, McKean emigrated to Edmonton in Canada as a teenager and served with the Canadian Expeditionary Forces during the Great World War. His bravery not only earned him the Victoria Cross, but the Military Medal and Military Cross.

However, Mrs Linge wanted to explore the places the war hero lived, his religious views and his life after the war, which was cut short by a tragic industrial accident at the saw mill he opened in Hertfordshire.

He died two days before the birth of his daughter, Patricia.

Mrs Linge said: “I found it very emotional. I felt as though I knew him. I started off calling him captain but by the end he was George.”

She continued: “This is not meant to be a written history of George Burdon McKean’s life put more of a pictorial journey through the places where he lived and the places where he will always be remembered for his amazing acts of bravery; his religious views; and the fact he was true gentleman, and like me, was born in Willington.”