TWO of the historic six Victoria Crosses won by the Fusiliers "before breakfast" at Gallipoli are now on display at Bury's regimental museum.

The descendents of Lancashire Fusilier William Keneally have agreed to donate the top bravery award to Wellington Barracks.

Colonel Brian Gorski, deputy colonel of the Royal Regiment of Fusiliers (Lancashire) was presented with the Victoria Cross (VC) and three other medals awarded to Private Keneally for his military service.

The museum already has on display the VC awarded to Sergeant Frank Stubbs while the one presented posthumously to Captain Richard Willis has been loaned to the Imperial War Museum in Leeds.

It was on April 25, 1915, that Private Keneally and the 1st Battalion, the Lancashire Fusiliers, stormed the W Beach at Gallipoli and there won undying fame.

In the presence of so much heroism by the Fusiliers, the normal method of selection for awards failed.

The 1st battalion was therefore allotted six Victoria Crosses, and ordered to choose the recipients.

Fusilier Keneally, Sgt Stubbs and Capt Willis were among the six chosen for the award.

The attack on W Beach was renamed the Lancashire Landings and "six VCs before breakfast" has since been the Regiment's proud boast.

Tony Sprayson, curator of the Fusilier Museum in Bury, said: "The family of Private Keneally have donated the medals on long-term loan rather than sell them.

"We cannot thank his family enough for allowing us to display this brave soldier's honours."