THE iconic "six VCs before breakfast" famously won by the Lancashire Fusiliers at Gallipoli have gone on show together for the first time ever at a special exhibition in Bury.

All six medals, which are now on display at the town's Fusilier Museum in Moss Street, are the highlight of a special centenary programme of events to commemorate Gallipoli.

The six VCs were won by Lancashire Fusiliers Cpt Richard Raymond Willis, Sgt Frank Edward Stubbs, Cpl William Kenealy, Sgt Alfred Richards, Cpl John Elisa Grimshaw, and Major Cuthbert Bromley for their bravery during the battle at Cape Helles on the April 25, 1915.

The museum has two of the VCs in its collection, three are being kindly loaned to the museum from Lord Ashcroft’s private collection - which is the largest of its kind in the world. The final medal belonging to Major Bromley was found last year following an appeal by the team at the museum.

The Gallipoli campaign was fought during World War One and took place in Turkey. The 1st Battalion, Lancashire Fusiliers landed on a beach, to the west of Cape Helles. The Turks waited until the Fusiliers were almost ashore before they opened fire.

Despite heavy losses, the Fusiliers kept a hold on the beach and eventually advanced up both sides of the cliff, driving the defending Turks out of their trenches. Six VCs were eventually awarded for this action and W Beach was renamed Lancashire Landing in honour of the battalion that had captured it.

Helen Smith, general manager of the Fusilier Museum, said: “We are delighted to open this exciting exhibition to commemorate the 100 year anniversary of Gallipoli. It will be the first time in history that all six of the VCs have been together in one place, so it’s a really important piece of history for the museum and the town of Bury.

"The anniversary of Gallipoli has always been an important time for the community in Bury so we are excited to be bringing this once in a lifetime exhibition to the Fusilier Museum and hope everyone will take the opportunity to be part of this special event.”

All six VCs will can be seen until May 17, after which replicas will replace the four medals on loan to the museum. The main exhibition, which will run until summer next year, features profiles of the six VC winners, audio clips from those who served at Gallipoli, plus a new video about what the campaign means to people.

Among guests at Tuesday's opening of the exhibition were relatives of one of the six VC recipients, Cpl Grimshaw.

His niece Mrs Edna Aspinall, aged 72, who lives in Higher Ince, Wigan, said: "This was the first time I'd actually seen his original VC. I'd only seen photographs of it before. It was absolutely wonderful to see the VC and the exhibition. All those who served in Gallipoli were heroes."

As part of the Gallipoli 100 weekend there will also be a concert at Bury Parish Church on Saturday, beginning at 2.30pm. It will feature The Band of Her Majesty’s Royal Marines Scotland who will perform the world premiere of a new piece of music, especially written by composer Martin Ellerby for the centenary.

Some tickets, costing £15, are still available at the Tourist Information Centre in Moss Street.

* Doctor visits the battleground where his great-grandfather, from Radcliffe, fought. p.7

* A civic-led delegation makes an emotional trip to the Lancashire Landing Cemetery. p. 8