A WAR hero has been remembered after kind-hearted volunteers cleaned up his last resting place.

Lee Jaschok, director of Freedom Funerals, decided to clean-up one of Colchester’s only Victoria Cross graves in time for Remembrance Day after discovering it lying forgotten underneath a tree.

It belongs to Private Edmund Fowler, who won the VC when he was fighting during the Zulu War, aged just 18.

Freedom Funerals stepped in to help after staff saw Colchester Crematorium’s new specialist cleaning equipment in action.

Mr Jaschok said he was honoured to have helped.

He said: “Although some funds had been raised in 2013 to look after this important grave, it had been noted that it is located under a big group of trees and therefore would benefit from this service.

“We immediately agreed as we feel very strongly about helping honour our war heroes.

“It was the least that we could do for such a decorated war veteran buried in Colchester and especially so he can be celebrated once again on Remembrance Day, ninety years after his passing.”

Pte Fowler was awarded the VC in 1882 after a feat of daring heroism.

In 1879, the then 18-year-old was accompanying a Captain and Lieutenant to remove enemy tribesmen who were firing at them from a cave up a mountain.

The passage was so small they had to go on ahead in single file.

The Captain, who went first, was killed instantly.

Pte Fowler and the Lieutenant followed straight away and fought the tribesmen back, securing the area for the rest of the troops.

He was awarded the medal three years later.

Pte Fowler was born in Crook, Waterford, in Ireland. He moved to Colchester with his wife, four daughters and two sons and lived in Berechurch Road.

A well-known man, he ran a greengrocer’s and the Live and Let Live Pub, in Stanwell Street.

Although he was awarded the VC in 1882, Pte Fowler was actually stripped of the honour when he was sent to prison in 1887 for embezzlement.

However, the medal was restored to Pte Fowler when Queen Victoria heard of the incident.

She said prison was punishment enough for his crime and returned his medal.

Pte Fowler later sold it for £42 at auction. It now sits in Cameronians museum in Hamilton, Lanarkshire.

Mr Jaschok said: “Private Fowler was a hero in every sense of the word.

“His selfless actions, alongside his fellow solider Lieutenant Lysons and also that of his Captains requires the highest levels of respect.

“Absolutely, without a shadow of a doubt [we would do this again]. It’s been our privilege to be involved.

“I feel that we can only do our best to provide any support or help during some of the most difficult times in people’s lives.”

Pte Fowler died on March 26, 1926. and is buried at Colchester Cemetery.