VC hero's grave at Malvern will be re-dedicated in civic ceremony on Saturday.

The ceremony, which marks the 148th anniversary of Private Ward's death, follows the restoration of the memorial which last year had been found to be in a very poor condition.

The Victoria Cross Trust agreed to part-fund the restoration of the monument, and Malvern Town Council raised £1,566.60 through a charity concert, and donations from members of the public, the Queen's Own Highlanders Regimental Association, and town councillors Ian Hopwood and Paul Tuthill.

The restoration project included creating a replica of the original stone, which will now be cared for in perpetuity by the Victoria Cross Trust; the original is now in the trust's museum.

Tomorrow's ceremony will include a reading from David Price, a descendant of Henry Ward, and will be conducted by Rev Harold Goddard of Christ Church and Malvern mayor Julian l'Anson.

The ceremony starts at 11am, and taking part will be the donors who made the restoration possible, direct descendants of Henry Ward, town councillors and representatives of local organisations such as Malvern Family History Society and Malvern Civic Society. A piper will be on hand to play appropriate music during the service.

Coun l'Anson said: "We have many prominent people buried in our ceremony, but none more eminent than one who is prepared to lay down his life for his fellows.

"I'm delighted that the new stone is to be re-dedicated at the new ceremony, and pleaded than many of his descendants will be there, some of them having come a considerable distance. I'm sure they must be very proud of him."

Henry Ward won the VC, the UK’s highest award for bravery, during the Indian Mutiny of 1857 for standing guard over his wounded commanding officer under heavy fire at the Siege of Lucknow.

He died in Malvern 10 years later and was buried in the town cemetery, off Madresfield Road. The memorial above his grave was paid for by Lieutenant Henry Havelock, the officer whose life he saved.