A statue to commemorate a VC winning British cavalryman is to be erected in the centre of Reading, Berkshire.
It will depict trooper Fred Potts of the Berkshire Yeomanry dragging a wounded comrade, trooper Arthur Andrews, to safety on a shovel during fighting at Gallipoli in 1915.
Informative memorial to VC winner
Richard Bennett, chairman of the Trooper Potts VC Trust, said: ‘We will be able to create a memorial, and a significant piece of public art, that is informative, will be seen clearly, provide space for reflection and draw people to this area.
‘The centrepiece will be the sculpture, by Tom Murphy, of Trooper Potts VC and Trooper Andrews. The design of the Roll of Honour is inspired by the simplicity and accessibility of the 2012 Titanic Memorial in Belfast.
‘We now project the cost at £150,000, the £74,000 already raised represents just under 50 per cent of the required funds.’
The memorial is to be completed in phases with information boards and the Roll of Honour recording the names of around 400 local men who lost their lives in the First World War scheduled to be in place by March 2015, the centenary of the Gallipoli campaign. The sculpture itself is due to be in place by September 2015, prior to the centenary of the rescue on Sunday 4 October 4 2015.
To read more about the Trooper Potts VC Trust, click here.
First World War Centenary, 1914-1918 
Re Trooper Potts VC Memorial. Following some terrific support by people and businesses of Reading and Berkshire we have raised the £150,000 required to complete the memorial and Roll of Honour to the 416 men of the Berkshire Yeomanry who gave their lives in the wars of the 20th Century. The memorial will be unveiled on 4 October 2015. We continue to fundraise to cover future maintenance / cleaning costs.
We undertake educational outreach work with our Educational Partner, Reading College. In the last two weeks we have; run Potts VC mornings at St Edwards Boys Preparatory School and Katesgrove Primary School ( in total approx 170 children). Also delivered the “Inspire lecture” to the 6th form boys at Reading School approx 30 in the audience.
Up to date details can be seen on Facebook:
http://www.facebook.com/TrooperPottsMemorialTrust