FORMER Boltonian Jack Guffogg is a reluctant and modest hero. But a hero he is. It was only after a few gentle pushes that he hesitantly spoke of the heroic exploits that led to him being awarded the British military's highest honour - the Victoria Cross.

It was during the Second World War that Private Jack Guffogg was stationed in Dieppe with the 4th Commandos.

It was 1941 and the allied forces seemed to be fighting a losing battle against the mighty force of the Third Reich.

During the fighting a platoon of more than 300 Canadian soldiers had become stranded at the bottom of a cliff. They were unable to move because of a German battery in front of them. Without any regard to his own safety Jack took it upon himself to save the almost certainly doomed soldiers. Speaking today, Jack, who says he was forced to show the medal to the Mayor of Bolton by sister Ada, said: "I took it on myself to rescue the soldiers and I managed to do it by wiping out the German battery."

It was only after another gentle push that he revealed that he single handedly took on between 12 and 14 German soldiers to save the Canadians. But Jack says being reunited with Ada means much more to him than his Victoria Cross.

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