18 Nov 2013

VC winners to be honoured for WWI service

6:20 am on 18 November 2013

Soldiers from Commonwealth countries who won the Victoria Cross fighting for Britain during World War I will have their bravery honoured to mark the centenary of the conflict.

ANZAC troops are among more than 170 foreign combatants to be remembered around the globe in an extension of a scheme to lay commemorative paving stones in the home towns of British servicemen.

The announcement was made by Prime Minister David Cameron on Sunday after the Commonwealth summit in Sri Lanka.

"The countries of today's Commonwealth played a vital role alongside our allies during the First World War," Mr Cameron said.

Countries they came from include Australia, Canada, Ceylon (Sri Lanka), India, Nepal, New Zealand, Pakistan and South Africa.

"I am committed to ensuring that our centenary commemorations properly recognise the Commonwealth contribution and the sacrifices they made," Mr Cameron said.