PLANS are well under way for the siting of a memorial stone to a soldier from Helensburgh who won the Victoria Cross in the First World War.

Colonel George Findlay – or George de Cardonnel Elmsall Findlay, to give him his full name – was one of only four men from Argyll and Bute to receive the country's highest honour for gallantry during the Great War.

Members of Helensburgh Community Council were told last week that plans were well advanced to build a wall at the gates to Drumfork House in the east end of the town – where Colonel Findlay died in 1967, aged 77, and where the memorial stone will be mounted.

Community councillor Roger Clarke told HCC's June meeting: "The wall has been built by the only recognised stonemason left in Helensburgh and with the full blessing of the owner of Drumfork House, who has gone out of his way to make sure it stands out."

The memorial is part of a UK government programme to honour all the soldiers who received a VC during the 1914-18 conflict.

Colonel Findlay won the award for his actions on the first day of the second Battle of Sambre, on November 4, 1918 – just seven days before the Armistice was signed.

The memorial unveiling is set to take place on or around the 100th anniversary of his actions.

A similar memorial was unveiled in Cardross last year in memory of Lieutenant John Reginald Noble Graham, who hailed from the village and also won the VC for his bravery.