A war hero killed in action has been posthumously awarded the Elizabeth Cross.

The family of gunner William Doe were honoured to receive the medal on his behalf after he made the ultimate sacrifice.

The family, from Castle Hedingham, attended a special ceremony held at Merville Barracks, at Colchester Garrison, on Wednesday, when they collected the award.

Gunner William Doe, of 50th Medium Regiment Royal Artillery, was killed on October 28, 1956, when the vehicle he was travelling in struck an improvised explosive device in Cyprus.

During the ceremony his sister was presented with the Elizabeth Cross and a memorial scroll by Jennifer Tolhurst, Lord Lieutenant of Essex and Lt Col Stephen Caldwell, commander of Colchester Garrison.

His sister, Diana Doe, travelled from Canada, where she now lives, to collect the award and spoke about the recognition he has finally received more than sixty years on.

She said: “I’m very proud to receive the Elizabeth Cross in memory of my brother William.

“When he was killed I was working in New Zealand and not able to grieve with the family and by the time I came home two years later they had moved on, so I just had to get on with life.

“Today has given me the chance to pay tribute to him.”

Mr Doe is buried at Wayne’s Keep, a British military cemetery near Nicosia, Cyprus.

His name is also inscribed on the war memorial in the village of Cavendish in Suffolk.

Niece Jennifer Toocaram, who still lives in Castle Hedingham, also attended the ceremony.

She added: “I remember Uncle Bill very well, I was very young and he used to swing me up on to his shoulders.

“This has been a fantastic occasion to come together as a family and cherish his memory.”

Mr Doe was one of the 371 British military personnel killed during the Cyprus Emergency, which lasted from 1955 to 1959 and involved a series of attacks on British servicemen by members of the National Organisation of Cypriot Fighters.

The Elizabeth Cross was first introduced in 2009 to give recognition to bereaved families who had lost love ones in action.

Soldiers killed on operations since 1948 are eligible for the award.