THE sixth and final Victoria Cross famously won by the Lancashire Fusiliers a century ago following the Gallipoli landings has a temporary new home.

Nick Bromley, the great nephew of VC winner Major Cuthbert Bromley, visited Bury's Fusilier Museum to present the highest military decoration awarded for valour "in the face of the enemy" ahead of an exhibition to be launched later this month.

He handed over the medal to Colonel Brian Gorski, chairman of the museum, in advance of the "6 VC’s before breakfast exhibition" which opens on Saturday April 25 as part of the Gallipoli 100 commemorations.

The museum has two of the VCs in its collection — won by Cpl William Keneally and Cpl John Grimshaw. Last year, Lord Ashcroft kindly agreed to loan the museum three VCs from his private collection which is the largest of its kind in the world. However, that meant that one of the VCs was still outstanding.

Col Gorski and Sarah Stevenson, museum collections officer, then spent nine months trying to trace the sixth and final VC which, following discussions with the owner Mr Bromley, has now been loaned by the family for the exhibition.

Mr Bromley said: “It has been a great pleasure to visit the museum and to be able to loan the Bromley family VC to the museum for this exciting exhibition. The Fusilier Museum really is an exceptional museum and is on a par with many national museums, including the National Army Museum. I look forward to returning to Bury for the Gallipoli 100 weekend and seeing the exhibition for myself.”

Major Cuthbert Bromley was awarded the VC for his actions on April 25, 1915, during the landings at W Beach. Bromley was the adjutant to the commanding officer at Gallipoli and distinguished himself magnificently on the first day when he received a wound to his back and refused to leave his men.

The Bromley medal will join the five others to make up the six Victoria Crosses famously won "before breakfast" in the Gallipoli landings in 1915. The exhibition will be the highlight of the museum’s special centenary programme over the weekend. It will be the first time ever in 100 years that all of the VCs have been on display in one place and represents a significant moment in the history of the museum.

Following the opening of the exhibition, a commemorative piece of music, commissioned by Helen Smith on behalf of the museum, will receive its inaugural performance by The Royal Marines Band of Her Majesty, Scotland, at a special concert at Bury Parish Church. It has been written by local composer Martin Ellerby.

Gallipoli 100 will finish on Sunday April 26 with a parade and church service at Bury Parish Church followed by a parade and march-past starting at 1pm on Bolton Street.