Five war heroes whose exploits span seven decades gathered in Chilham for a unique celebration.

They were guests at a Heroes Lunch held by the Lord Lieutenant of Kent, Allan Willett CMG, and his wife Anne, at their home in the village.

The lunch was held on Thursday, ahead of the Help for Heroes concert which took place at the Kent Showground in Detling on Sunday and featured top acts such as McFly and Nik Kershaw.

Mr Willett, The Queen’s representative in the county, said: “We are honouring them for their extraordinary service and at the same time helping to raise the profile of Help for Heroes – the charity which aids members of the Armed Forces wounded on operations.”

The Allan Willett Foundation has made a substantial donation to the charity.

The Heroes Lunch was one of this year’s many events – including the major Canterbury parade and thanksgiving service earlier this month – initiated by the Lord Lieutenant to celebrate the Territorial Army’s Centenary and encourage greater public support and recognition for our Armed Forces and their families.

All five being honoured at the lunch have strong Kent connections. They included:

•Lance Corporal Johnson Beharry, who was awarded the Victoria Cross in 2005 for valour – twice saving members of his unit from ambushes in Iraq although himself severely wounded – is serving with the County Infantry unit, The Princess of Wales’s Royal Regiment;

•Peter Doresa is a former officer of the 4th Battalion Queen's Own Royal West Kent Regiment, and was awarded the Military Cross for bravery at Battle of Kohima in Burma in 1944, when the depleted battalion held a Japanese division at bay, preventing the invasion of India;

•Wing Commander Bob Foster represented The Few – the pilots who fought in the Battle of Britain largely in Kentish skies in 1940. He was later awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for operations against the Japanese in the Far East in 1943.

•Jeffrey Haward, from Lower Stoke, near Rochester, is a former Territorial – a member of the British Expeditionary Force and Dunkirk Veteran who subsequently won the Military Medal for bravery in Holland in 1945.

•Warrant Officer Tony Wyles, representing serving Territorials, is a member of 221 Field Squadron (Explosive Ordnance Disposal), Royal Engineers, at Rochester, was awarded the Queen’s Gallantry Medal in 2003 for recovering civilian casualties after explosions in Iraq.

•Johnson Beharry told fellow guests that, coming from the Caribbean, he had never even heard of the Victoria Cross until told he had won it.

After the luncheon Mrs Willett said: “It was a privilege for us to host a gathering of such a modest group of true heroes and wonderful role models.”

To find out more about Help for Heroes or make a donation visit www.helpforheroes.org.uk