HUNDREDS of people are expected at a parade and church service in honour of Burnley war heroes.

The event, organised by the Queen's East Lancashire Regiment Association's Burnley and Pendle branch, will commemorate the soldiers who died fighting in Gallipoli in 1915 during the First World War.

It is the second time Burnley has commemorated the war heroes of Gallipoli after organisers decided to make the day an annual event.

Those taking part will include the Mayor and Mayoress of Burnley, Gordon and Kathleen Birtwistle, Burnley MP Peter Pike and representatives from the QLR.

Among those to be honoured will be Lt Victor Smith who was killed while serving with the East Lancashire Regiment when he threw himself on his own grenade to protect fellow officers and men in the trench.

The bravery of the former police acting inspector won him the Victoria Cross -- one of only two ever awarded to Burnley servicemen -- and a permanent place in the town's history.

His father, William Smith, chief constable of the Burnley force, donated a trophy in his memory, to go to serving Burnley policemen for bravery. It is still awarded today.

He was also remembered at St Catherine's Church, Burnley, where he had been a choirboy and Sunday school teacher and where churchgoers erected a marble memorial tribute.

Fr Tony Dalton, who has organised the event, said: "The incident happened in Gallipoli on the day before Christmas Eve 1915.

"Lt Smith had primed a grenade but in the cold, wet and muddy conditions he dropped it. He shouted a warning and jumped out of the trench, but when he looked back he saw nobody else had moved.

"He jumped back and threw himself on the grenade and saved all their lives.

"It was an extremely brave act and within weeks he was put up for the Victoria Cross."

"The memorial inside the church was unveiled in 1916."

The service will be held in St Peter's Church on Sunday, April 27 followed by a lunch at the Keirby Hotel.