Kiwi soldiers commemorated in UK tribute

At a special ceremony this week, British PM David Cameron paid tribute to the "remarkable valour and devotion to duty" of the overseas fighters. Photo / AP

The bravery of 14 New Zealand soldiers awarded the Victoria Cross during World War I have been commemorated by the UK government.

Commemorative paving stones remembering the Kiwi soldiers have been laid this week at the National Memorial Arboretum in Staffordshire, England.

They are part of 145 memorials to the overseas-born recipients of Britain's highest military honour, the Victoria Cross for service in the 1914-18 Great War.

At a special ceremony this week, British Prime Minister David Cameron paid tribute to the "remarkable valour and devotion to duty" of the overseas fighters.

"A century may have passed since these extraordinary acts but the courage of these men remains as humbling and inspiring today as it was back then," he said.

Communities Secretary Eric Pickles said the memorials are a reminder of the servicemen who "fought together, shoulder-to-shoulder, for liberty and their legacy forms the fabric of our society as we know it".

Britain and Ireland will lay 504 paving stones for their home-grown First World War VC recipients in each soldier's home town on the centenary of their courageous act.

A total of 145 servicemen born in 19 different countries were awarded the Victoria Cross during World War I, including from Australia (52), Canada (32), India (17), New Zealand (14), South Africa (5) Pakistan (4) United States of America (4) Denmark (2) Germany (2), Netherlands (2), Nepal (2) and Sri Lanka (2) Belgium (1) China (1), Egypt (1), France (1), Iraq (1) and Ukraine (1).