Top honours for tank heroes are being brought together for the first time – 100 years after they were awarded.

The four Victoria Crosses for members of the Tank Corps in the First World War are going on display after Tank Museum bosses secured them for a special exhibition.

The VC is the highest award for gallantry and the stories of how the men won them – all posthumously – are inspiring.

David Willey, curator of the Bovington museum, said: “Having all four VCs together a century after they were awarded is a great moment for us. They have never been together before."

He added: “While we have the finest collection of tanks in the world it is always the stories of the men who fought in them that captures the imagination of our audience – and here are four of the best.”

The museum owns the VC that was awarded to Cecil Sewell, and Lord Ashcroft is loaning the one awarded to Richard West.

The family of Richard Wain loaned the museum his VC last year and following an appeal the final VC – awarded to Clement Robertson – has also been secured.

The exhibition runs from from Monday, August 6 until Sunday, November 11.

As well as the VCs the museum will be displaying the men’s other medals and descriptions of what they did and photographs of them.

During the same week – on August 8 – the museum will be commemorating the centenary of the Battle of Amiens.

CLEMENT Robertson was the first Tank Corps officer to be awarded a VC, for his heroics at Passchendale on October 4, 1917.

He had spent three days in no-man’s-land marking out the routes for his tanks to follow – all under heavy fire.

Fearing the tanks might lose their way he led them on foot as shells and bullets rained down.

He was killed, but his self-sacrifice led to a successful attack. He was 26.

Captain Richard Wain was awarded the VC following his heroics at the Battle of Cambrai on November 20, 1917.

He was seriously injured when his tank was hit, but he climbed out with a gun and attacked the enemy, captured a strong point, took prisoners and allowed the infantry to advance.

He continued shooting until he received a fatal shot. He was 20.

Cecil Sewell was awarded his for two linked actions on August 29, 1918. After seeing one of his tanks fall into a shell-hole and catch fire he leapt from his own tank and dug away the mud so the men could escape.

He then saw that his own tank driver was wounded and he rushed to help and was shot several times. While administering first aid he was shot again, fatally. He was 23.

Richard West's VC was awarded for two actions in 1918.

The first was leading men to their objective after having two horses shot from beneath him.

The second was on September 2 when in command of the 6th Light Battalion, he feared a retreat from his infantry due to an enemy counter-attack.

He rode on horseback up and down the line encouraging them to fight and defend their position. He was killed by enemy gunfire, but his words and actions inspired the men and the attack was defeated. He was 39.