London, Jan 29 (IANS): Veteran actress Judi Dench is backing a campaign to immortalise a World War I hero in his hometown.
She is supporting the plan to erect a statue in Walton-on-the-Naze in Essex, England in memory of Private Herbert Columbine, who died in the trenches in France just months before the war ended in 1918, reports contactmusic.com.
He was awarded a posthumous Victoria Cross, Britain's highest military decoration for valour, for his efforts in a battle with German troops.
Officials at the Royal British Legion have been raising money to fund the statue project. Dench helped out by donating a signed photograph to bring in bids at an auction.
The statue is due to be unveiled in 2014.