Lieutenant-Colonel William Thomas Marshall VC was buried in Bennochy cemetery in 1920 and his grandson, great-grandson and two of his great-great-grandsons were able to attend a commemorative ceremony at the weekend.

Members of the Light Dragoons Regimental Association Scottish branch hold an annual reunion and during the day they attend a ceremony in memory of Lt Col Marshall.

This year Maurice (grandson), Phillip (great-grandson), Robert and Jonathan Marshall (great-great-grandsons) came to Kirkcaldy from Radlett near London to lay a wreath and crosses on their relative's grave.

Lt Col Marshall was a quartermaster sergeant with the 19th Hussars, which later became part of the Light Dragoons, during the war in Egypt from 1882-4.

A battle on February 29, 1884 at El Teb, Sudan, resulted in desperate fighting when the mounted Hussars were counter-attacked on scrub land.

Many were brought down by hidden swordsmen and all were killed except for Marshall and Lt Col Percy Barrow who was severely injured by a spear and surrounded by enemy.

Since the spear meant it was impossible to lift him, Marshall grabbed his officer by the hand and dragged him through the enemy and back to the safety of the regiment.

He received the Victoria Cross for his heroic actions and was commissioned as an officer the next year.

After serving in the Boer War, Marshall, who was originally from Nottinghamshire, retired from the regular army in 1907 and moved to Kirkcaldy.

• To read the full story pick up your copy of the Fife Free Press- now on sale first thing every Thursday morning.