Five years ago a north Durham community rewarded the bravery of a Victoria Cross hero by unveiling a new headstone. But he was not the only hero in his family. Gavin Engelbrecht reports.

FIVE years ago, a former pit village came to a standstill as the Last Post sounded again at the graveside of Private Michael Heaviside VC.

Forgotten by all but his family, his courage was rewarded 60 years after his death, when a new headstone was unveiled in Craghead, County Durham.

A Durham Light Infantry stretcher bearer, Pte Heaviside won the Victoria Cross in 1917 after crawling across No Man's Land to rescue a wounded man, under the fire of German guns.

But it has emerged he was not the only hero in his family.

His son, Corporal Victor Heaviside, of the 1/7th Battalion Warwickshire Regiment, died in a crucial engagement during the Second World War.

His role in a battle that proved vital in helping shorten the Normandy campaign will be remembered in a new book written by researcher Andrew Long.

Mr Long of Worcester, who is writing his first book, Bridgehead on the Orne, said: "The battle of Grimbosq in Normandy, fought for 36 hours between August 7 and 9, 1944, can only be described as a fierce engagement which ebbed and flowed over 36 hours.

"Four British infantry battalions, including the 1/7th Warwickshire Regiment and three German units faced each other. It became a pivotal action during the latter part of the Normandy campaign when the Allies were trying to entrap retreating units at Falaise."

The engagement came against the backdrop of a hard Allied push against the German occupation forces, with the British and Canadian battle for Caen and its surrounding areas taking longer then expected.

With the Germans seemingly on the back foot, an operation codenamed Totalize was launched, with the aim of the British and Canadian armies encircling the withdrawing German troops at Falaise.

Along the western banks of the River Orne, allied troops began to mass ready for the push.

The Germans held the eastern side of the river, and the slopes leading up from the valley, giving them a height advantage over the troops below.

The Germans had blown up the main bridge at Grimbosq, and the troops had to wade across.

With the battle in full flow on August 8, the 1/7th Warwickshire Regiment was ordered in to reinforce the brigade, and re-take Brieux.

Mr Long said: "Without the intervention of the 1/7th, the situation could have been a lot worse, and the advance on Grimbosq could have failed.

"Most of the engagements by the 1/7th were along the railway line and sidings, and to the small hamlet of Brieux.

"On the initial push forward, the 1/7th were counter attacked by elements from the 12th SS, resulting in C Company taking many casualties.

"It is likely that Cpl Heaviside was mortally wounded in this engagement, dying the next day - August 9.

"We don't know the circumstances of how he died, but as a junior non-commissioned officer he would have been in the thick of it, and leading from the front."

Mr Long said the Germans withdrew, with the Allies able to continue on their way to eventually surround the enemy at Falaise.

He said: "Now 60 years on, Grimbosq is a quiet little village, with the only sign of the conflict being the Grimbosq memorial.

"The bridge has long been repaired, and time has moved on, but the sacrifice of those at Grimbosq should never be forgotten."

Alan Heaviside of Pelton, near Chester-le-Street, who is grandson of Michael Heaviside and nephew of Victor was last night preparing to travel to the Remembrance Parade in London in honour of their memory.

He said: "When Victor died, my grandmother was very upset. He managed to write one last letter home from the field hospital.

"It was obvious he was seriously ill. There was nothing they could do for him. His writing got weaker and weaker as he said his last goodbyes."

Mr Heaviside added: "My father Matthew was very close to him, that is how I got his medals.

"We made a point of going to his graveside in Normandy four years ago out or respect.

"A group of veterans from the Parachute Regiment held a short service and laid a wreath. It was very touching."

Mr Heaviside, who has been back to the cemetery in France every year since, said: "I am pleased his contribution will be remembered in this book.

"He has never been forgotten by any of us - and this will ensure that his memory will always there."