A SPECIAL paving stone will be laid on Teignmouth seafront to honour one of the town's most distinguished war heroes.

It will commemorate Brig Sir John Smyth, who was awarded the VC for bravery in the first world war.

He was highly decorated, also receiving the Military Cross, the Russian Cross of St George, and was mentioned in despatches six times.

Born in Greenmount, Ferndale Road, in 1893, he served as a lieutenant in the 15th Ludhiana Sikhs regiment of the Indian Army and was posted to the Western Front.

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