Two war heroes will be honoured with commemorative paving plaques at a ceremony next month.

Hillingdon Council has arranged for the plaques to be laid at the Harefield War Memorial on Tuesday, November 4, in tribute to Robert Edward Ryder VC and Cecil John Kinross VC.

Both men were born in Harefield and were awarded the Victoria Cross, the highest military decoration for gallantry , during the First World War.

Family members of both men will attend the ceremony, along with dignitaries including Lance Sergeant Johnson Beharry VC, who, on March 18, 2005, was himself awarded the Victoria Cross for twice saving members of his unit in Iraq.

Council leader Councillor Ray Puddifoot said: “It is important to recognise Hillingdon’s heritage and those who have been part of our community.

“The Victoria Cross was awarded 628 times ​for action in the First World War (1914–1918) and it ​is therefore remarkable that two of the recipients were born in the same village of Harefield.

“Their acts of bravery are something Hillingdon should be very ​proud of.”

​As part of the event, Harefield Village Green will join the Centenary Fields scheme, a national initiative aiming to protect war memorial fields, parks and green spaces created in memory of those who lost their lives during the First World War.

The project is run by the national charity Fields in Trust, in partnership with The Royal British Legion.

Fields in Trust chief executive Helen Griffiths said: “This programme is a fitting way for us to mark the sacrifices made by so many in the First World War whilst looking to the future through a living remembrance.

“We are delighted that Hillingdon Council are embracing Centenary Fields, commemorating the centenary of the First World War for the people of Hillingdon in a way they can appreciate forever.

“We look forward to many more landowners following their lead.”

Mr Ryder was born on December 17, 1895 and was aged 20 when he carried out his heroic act while serving as a private in the 12th Battalion, The Middlesex Regiment (Duke of Cambridge’s Own), British Army.

Robert Edward Ryder

On September 26, 1916, in Thiepval, France, his company was under heavy rifle fire and all his officers had become casualties.

Without thinking for his own safety, Private Ryder ran alone towards the enemy trench, which he managed to clear using his Lewis gun.

He later achieved the rank of sergeant and died aged 82, on December 1, 1978.

Mr Kinross was born on February 17, 1896 at Dews Farm, in Harefield.

Cecil John Kinross VC

He joined the Canadian Expeditionary Force at Calgary, in Canada, on October 21, 1915 as a private in the 49th (Edmonton) Battalion.

On October 30, 1917, at the Battle of Passchendaele, his company, too, came under intense fire, including from an enemy machine gun.

He, too, selflessly and single-handedly charged the machine gun, moving across open ground in broad daylight with nothing but his rifle, before killing a crew of six and seizing and destroying the gun.

That same year, he was wounded in the arm and head and hospitalised, before being presented the VC by King George in March 1918.

Mr Kinross died on June 21, 1957, aged 61.