The Last Post drifted across the windswept Bradford cemetery...and one man's bravery was finally recognised.

Matthew Hughes's actions won him both the highest honours for valour and the disgrace of imprisonment and court martial.

But now, more then 100 years after being buried in Undercliffe Cemetery, Hughes has been recognised with a full military rededication ceremony.

The service was led by the Canon of Ripon, Keith Punshaw, honorary Chaplain of Hughes's regiment, the Royal Fusiliers and attended by a military guard of honour.

Mr Punshaw said: "Deeds like these live on long after the event. The Victoria Cross is one of the most wonderful awards in the world for the most wonderful acts of bravery. He risked his life for comradeship."

Hughes was noticed by an officer twice going for ammunition under heavy fire during the storming of the quarries at Sevastopol on June 7 1855. He also risked his own life rescuing an injured soldier from the battlefield. A week later Hughes volunteered to help a wounded officer, despite already being wounded, and saved his life.

But Hughes was also mentioned in the regiment's defaulters punishment book 21 times - and reduced from the rank of sergeant twice, although the reasons for this remain unclear.

Mr Punshaw said: "He was a very brave man who obviously cared a lot more for people than for rules and regulations." The service followed months of work and research by ex-servicemen Samuel Tidd and David Tomlins, of Edgeware, who were determined to win Hughes the recognition he deserved.

Mr Tidd said: "It's great to see the grave after all the work. Its criminal that men who have won the highest honour for their country are buried in unmarked graves."

The carved headstone which bears an intricate representation of the Victoria Cross, was provided by Russell Stone Merchants, of Bradford.

Finally it was anointed with holy water from the River Jordan, a far cry from the Bradford where Hughes was born and the battle field where his actions distinguished him from his fellow soldiers.

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