A little-known hero who risked his life to save his colleagues is marking his 175th anniversary today.

Charles Davis Lucas, the first person ever to receive the Victoria Cross, would have been celebrating his 175th year.

The Crimean War veteran, who was born in Co Armagh, Northern Ireland but chose to spend his twilight years in Great Culverden, Tunbridge Wells is one of the best known of the VC holders.

Lucas's heroic moment came as a midshipman in the Royal Navy aged 20 on June 18, 1854, whilst fighting in the Crimean War.

He was onboard the HMS Hecla fighting the Russians in the Baltic Sea, which was bombarding a fort in the Aland Islands when a shell fired from a Russian battery landed on the ship's deck.

The crew was instructed to take cover and lay flat, but Lucas rushed forward, picked up the shell and threw it overboard where it exploded before hitting the water, saving both damage to the ship and his shipmates' lives.

He was immediately promoted to the position of Lieutenant and given the Royal Humanitarian Society gold medal for saving lives.

Two years later, in January 1856 Queen Victoria decided to create a medal for heroes of any rank of the Armed Forces - The Victoria Cross.

Charles Davis Lucas was chosen as the first hero in history to be awarded for his bravery alongside 111 Crimean War veterans.

Lieutenant Lucas and his fellow VC holders were presented with their medals by Queen Victoria at an enormous royal event in Hyde Park, on June 26, 1857, which was attended by more than 100,000 people.

But according to Brian Best, founder of the Victoria Cross Society despite being the first act of valour in history to merit the award, Lucas wasn't actually the first to be physically presented with the medal.

He said: "Because he was only a Lieutenant he was actually fourth in line to be presented: that honour went to a commander, Henry Raby. Although it might have been for the best as the Queen's horse bucked whilst Commander Raby was being presented and she mistakenly plunged the cross, which was attached to the tunic by a double pronged pin straight into his chest!"

Since Charles Davis Lucas was received his VC, only 1,358 have been given out.

Lieutenant Colonel Mike Martin from Deal tours Kent talking about the VC and other Military matters, he says the medal has become more and more difficult to win.

"Only 1,358 have been given out, not a lot in 150 years. It was quite liberally given out to start with. In the Indian Mutiny, 1857, 182 VCs were given out and in the Crimean War there were 111, whereas in World War Two, which went on for six years, and was fought all over the world, with two and a half million people involved, there were only 182 VCs given. So, you can see how hard it is to get now. Since World War Two then there only have been about 14 awarded."

Charles Davis Lucas finally left the Forces as Rear Admiral, and came to live in Great Culverden with his wife, the daughter of the Captain of HMS Hecla.

Their house was on the site of the Kent and Sussex Hospital.

He died in Tunbridge Wells on August 7 1914, aged 80 and was buried in his wife's family grave at Mereworth, Maidstone, where a memorial to him now stands.