HE is the lone Fusilier, standing proudly waving his battle helmet triumphantly in the air and his rifle, with bayonet fixed, held firmly in his other hand.

He reminds all who make their way into Bury town centre of the borough's links to the Lancashire regiment.

The statue at Whitehead Gardens commemorates the Lancashire Fusiliers' (LF) historic role in the Boer War, when they "in exceptionally trying circumstances, magnificently upheld the best traditions of the British Army", during the battle for Spion Kop on January 24, 1900.

But who is this soldier? Well, he is none other than Walter Dyer, who was born in Alcester, Warwickshire, on June 22, 1873, and went on to become the Colour Sergeant in the LFs based at Wellington Barracks in Bury.

His granddaughter, Beatrix Perry, said: "It was his great honour to be selected as a model for the Bury war memorial.

"I know he fought in the Boer War and that he used to talk about his service with Kitchener. He was the third eldest of nine siblings. He was either 14 or 15 years old when he joined the Lancashire Fusiliers because he was very eager to enlist."

She continued: "The watercolour painting of my grandfather was signed by an artist called Colin Tucker from Aldershot. Whether this was a preliminary "sitting" before the actual sculpture was moulded, or a totally unrelated event, I cannot ascertain. I have in the past tried to trace the artist, but so far have found no record of his name.

"Unfortunately, Walter's wife, Clara, never believed in retaining memorabilia, so the medals that are emblazoned on his tunic fell victim to a jumble sale many years ago."

Walter had two daughters, Beatrix's mum Ada, born in 1911 at Wellington Barracks in Bolton Road, and her aunt Gertrude, born four years earlier.

When Walter left the Lancashire Fusiliers, in about 1914, he moved to Birmingham, where he became Chief Inspector of the Parks Police.

Unfortunately, his life ended very prematurely at the age of 49. Apparently, he was leaning out of a window and the sash cord broke, with the result that the window frame fell on his head and knocked him out. Several weeks later he died from a brain tumour.

Beatrix said: "I feel honoured to have had a grandfather who served his country in the Lancashire Fusiliers Regiment and who will hopefully eternally wave his busby at generations of people."

On Monday, wreaths will be laid at the foot of Walter's statue as the town once again pays tribute to the Fusiliers who fought at Spion Kop.

While a historic battle in the South African war, the Kop was in truth a disaster. The British army lost a brilliant victory as a result of a breakdown in the chain of command which resulted in 350 infantry and 300 Boers killed in battle.

Yet one battalion, the Lancashire Fusiliers, magnificently upheld the best traditions'.

The Fusiliers 2nd Battalion was among 2,000 soldiers who were detailed to capture Spion Kop's Lookout Hill during night manoeuvres.

Their attack was successful and a very cursory reconnaissance was made before the soldiers tried to dig themselves in.

Trench warfare had been born, but the scrapes were too shallow and, come dawn, the Boers inflicted heavy casualties.

In the end, both the British and the Boers abandoned Spion Kop. Both sides agreed to an armistice to bury the dead and collect the wounded.

The Fusiliers were conferred with a triple honour by King Edward VII - the right to wear the motto "Omnia Audax" (Daring All), the right to wear the yellow hackle and the right to have the Red Rose of Lancashire on the regimental colour.