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| WW1 hero Fred Potts statue funding bid continues | WW1 hero Fred Potts statue funding bid continues |
| (about 9 hours later) | |
| A group of college students and staff are taking part in a 40-mile walk to raise funds for a £160,000 statue to commemorate the only man from Reading to win a Victoria Cross medal. | A group of college students and staff are taking part in a 40-mile walk to raise funds for a £160,000 statue to commemorate the only man from Reading to win a Victoria Cross medal. |
| Fred Potts was recognised in 1915 for rescuing comrade Arthur Andrews during the World War One Gallipoli campaign. | Fred Potts was recognised in 1915 for rescuing comrade Arthur Andrews during the World War One Gallipoli campaign. |
| Three students and two lecturers from Reading College were due to set off for Buckingham Palace at 18:00 GMT. | |
| They are expected to arrive at midday on Sunday. | They are expected to arrive at midday on Sunday. |
| 'Amazing act' | 'Amazing act' |
| Students Tim Jones, Jack Fradley and Stacey Williams and lecturers Richard Duckett and Paul Emberlin, from the college's history department, will tweet live updates of their journey which is expected to raise about £1,000. | Students Tim Jones, Jack Fradley and Stacey Williams and lecturers Richard Duckett and Paul Emberlin, from the college's history department, will tweet live updates of their journey which is expected to raise about £1,000. |
| It is hoped the statue will be unveiled in Reading, at a location yet to be announced, on 4 October 2015, close to the centenary of the rescue. | It is hoped the statue will be unveiled in Reading, at a location yet to be announced, on 4 October 2015, close to the centenary of the rescue. |
| The two men were injured while advancing on the Turkish line and hid below the Turkish trenches for two days. | The two men were injured while advancing on the Turkish line and hid below the Turkish trenches for two days. |
| Eventually Trooper Potts, who had been shot in the thigh, used a shovel as a sledge to drag badly-injured Trooper Andrews to safety. | Eventually Trooper Potts, who had been shot in the thigh, used a shovel as a sledge to drag badly-injured Trooper Andrews to safety. |
| Mr Duckett described it as "an amazing act of bravery". | Mr Duckett described it as "an amazing act of bravery". |
| He added: "If they could spend 48 hours in the face of the enemy, I am sure we can spend a much shorter time, not being shot at or through the leg, walking to London." | He added: "If they could spend 48 hours in the face of the enemy, I am sure we can spend a much shorter time, not being shot at or through the leg, walking to London." |
| Richard Bennett, from the Trooper Potts Memorial Trust, said about £62,000 had already been raised. | Richard Bennett, from the Trooper Potts Memorial Trust, said about £62,000 had already been raised. |
| The memorial is also set to include a bronze roll of honour board listing the 371 members of the Berkshire Yeomanry who lost their lives during the 20th Century, he said. | The memorial is also set to include a bronze roll of honour board listing the 371 members of the Berkshire Yeomanry who lost their lives during the 20th Century, he said. |
| He added a number of further fundraising events were planned, as well as a bid for Heritage Lottery funding. | He added a number of further fundraising events were planned, as well as a bid for Heritage Lottery funding. |