One of just four Victoria Crosses won by tank crews in the First World War will go on public display for the first time. 

Captain Richard Wain was posthumously awarded the Victoria Cross, the UK’s highest award for bravery, following his actions at the Battle of Cambrai on November 20, 1917.

The award is now set to go on display at the Tank Museum in Bovington on the 100th anniversary of his death. 

Cpt Wain was seriously injured during the battle when his tank was hit, killing all inside but him. Refusing a stretcher, he climbed out with a gun, attacking the enemy and capturing prisoners which allowed the infantry to advance.

He continued shooting at the retreating Germans until he received a fatal shot to the head. He was just 20 years old.

Cpt Wain’s family, who wish to remain anonymous, have loaned the Victoria Cross to the museum where it will go on show from November 20.

The Tank Museum also has one of the other four Tank Corps VCs, that of Cecil Sewell, and well-known collector Lord Ashcroft owns the VC won by Richard West. 

However, the museum is keen to track down the location of the last VC won by Clement Roberston.

David Willey, curator of the Tank Museum, said: “We received communication from Cpt Wain’s family with the kind offer of the loan of the Victoria Cross, as they would love others to know of his story. 

“They have asked we display the medal with the following line ‘on loan from the family to share his memory with pride’ - and how right they are to be proud.

“Only four tank crew won VCs in the First World War and this offer came out of the blue and we were absolutely thrilled. Cpt Wain’s heroism was astonishing. We are privileged indeed to be able to display his VC and it will help teach another generation about the sacrifice of those young men who went before.

“After the emergence of this VC from his family we would love to find the location of the fourth First World War tank VC won by Clement Robertson. He was an Irishman serving in the Tank Corps, when he won his VC on October 4, 1917. 

“In order that his tanks would follow the correct route during the attack in Zonnebeke, Belgium, he had spent several days in no-man’s-land taping routes.

"During the attack he led the tanks, on foot, towards their objective, almost certainly knowing he would be killed. He was mortally wounded after the objective had been reached.

"Our dream would be to exhibit all four VCs together.”