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.

Judi Dench
Judi Dench

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.

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