THE GRANDSON of a First World War hero is so worried his parish council will not have a memorial finished in time for Remembrance Sunday he has had one installed outside his own home.

Keith Brooks said he hopes the two foot six inch stone, which was delivered to his front garden on Monday and cost around £500, will 'shame' the Horspath Parish Council into speeding up work on its own war memorial on the village green.

Oxford Mail:

The 71-year-old said: "I have no faith at the moment that the council one will be done in time for November, which is an incredibly important anniversary as it will be the centenary of the First World War ending."

He added his lack of confidence stemmed from personal experience, explaining: "I'm a member of the parish council myself and was on the war memorial sub-committee until I resigned last year after I got so frustrated by the dithering going on."

An application for a six foot stone memorial in Horspath Village Green was granted by Vale of White Horse District Council in April.

The parish council has denied Mr Brook's concerns with councillor Heather Palmer, speaking on behalf of the village authority, stating: “We have every confidence that the stone mason we have employed will have our memorial ready by Remembrance Sunday this year.”

It is not the first time Mr Brooks has come into conflict with the parish council over the issue.

The council threatened him with police action in 2014 when he vowed to lay a temporary homemade memorial on council land without permission on Remembrance Sunday.

He said: "I only joined the council because I care about getting a permanent war memorial for Horspath.

"It's not about me, it's about remembering and respecting the sacrifice of those who gave their lives for us."

Mr Brooks’s grandfather was Sergeant Major Edward Brooks, who was honoured for capturing an enemy machine gun.

One of only two men from the Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry to win the Victoria Cross during the First World War, Sergeant Major Brooks captured an enemy gun while under heavy fire and turned it on the enemy, causing them to retreat and saving many lives.

Mr Brooks said: "This stone will be in place on my front lawn at Gateley for Remembrance Day 2018 whether the council put one on the green or not.

"I intend my stone to be a permanent reminder of the sacrifices made by so few for so many, if anyone should like to place flowers or wreaths around it they will be most welcome."

Now cemented into the ground, the stone is also set to have a brass plaque with all those from Horspath who died during the First and Second World Wars added.