INDIVIDUALLY, they are remembered for acts of heroism above and beyond the call of duty – sometimes requiring the ultimate sacrifice.

Collectively, the stories of 20 men from Nottingham and Notts who were rewarded with Britain's highest honour for valour, have the power to make hard men humble.

And next week, the stories of those 20 winners of the Victoria Cross will be on display in a special exhibition to be staged in the foyer of Nottingham's grand Council House.

It has been organised by Lord Mayor's consort Norman Packer, inspired by the people he met when he visited the recent Armed Forces Weekend at Wollaton Park with Lord Mayor Jeannie Packer.

And it is hoped it will provide a significant financial boost to a campaign to establish a permanent memorial in the grounds of Nottingham Castle to the VC heroes of the city and county.

Members of the public who visit the exhibition will be asked to make a donation towards the appeal being run by the Nottingham and Notts Victoria Cross Committee.

It is also hoped the exhibition will help make people more aware of Nottingham's proud military heritage.

Committee chairman Tony Hickton said: "I recently did a straw poll among the public, asking them in they could name more than two of our VC winners. No one could. They know about Albert Ball and that is it.

"It is such a vital part of our heritage, we must protect it."

Norman Packer, who has worked with the committee to collate information about the 20 VC heroes, covering nearly 100 years of warfare, from the Crimea to the Second World War, said: "The exhibition will give a lot more people the chance to learn about the bravery of these men.

"They knew the danger they were in and embraced it."

The first Victoria Cross awarded to a man from Notts went to Francis Wheatley, a private in the Rifle Brigade, who saved the lives of his comrades at Sebastopol in the Crimea. Wheatley, from Ruddington, picked up a heavy, live Russian shell and heaved it out of their trench seconds before it exploded.

He was among the VC winners to attend the very first investiture by Queen Victoria held in Hyde Park, London, on July 26, 1857.

With the help of Tony Hickton and his committee, Mr Packer has been able to locate photographs of 19 of the 20 VC winners in the exhibition.

The only exception is Lieutenant William Raynor, from Plumtree, who won his medal during the Indian Mutiny in May 1857, during the defence of an ammunition store. He was one of only three British soldiers to escape. Aged 61 years 10 months, he is the oldest VC winner on record.

He did not return home for his investiture and died three years later in Punjab, where he is buried.

The last serviceman from Notts to win the Victoria Cross was Captain Robert St Vincent Sherbrooke, from Oxton.

He was the commander of HMS Onslow, a destroyer escorting a convoy heading for Russia which came under attack from German vessels. Despite being wounded in the face, Capt Sherbrooke continued to direct the ships under his command until the danger had passed.

Mr Packer said: "His daughter and granddaughter are expected to attend the exhibition's launch on Monday. They will be bringing his Victoria Cross, one of the few medals which remains in private hands."

Other family members of some of the winners are expected to attend, together with the Lord Lieutenant of Nottinghamshire, Sir Andrew Buchanan, and civic leaders from across the county.

Following the official launch, the exhibition will open to the public at noon and will remain in the Council House until the middle of September before touring the county.

The permanent memorial may be unveiled next year.