Old Broomfield Cemetery in Taplagh, Co Monaghan, is the final resting place of a known soldier but a forgotten hero.
Thomas Hughes from Coravoo, outside Castleblayney, was shot during the Battle of the Somme in World War I.
However, despite the injuries he sustained during the offence at Guillemont in France, the young private still managed to save the lives of his company.
Mr Hughes single-handedly captured an enemy machine gun position, killing two gunners and taking four prisoners.
For his bravery, he was awarded one of the most prestigious honours in the British armed forces, namely the Victoria Cross, by King George V on 2 June 1917.
Now, over 100 years later, one of the rarest military medals in the world has made it home.
On loan from the National Army Museum in London, the Victoria Cross has gone on public display for the first time and can now be seen at Monaghan County Museum.
The medal was first awarded to members of the British forces by Queen Victoria and from its inception in 1856 recognised that there had been no award for valour available across the board to all ranks and services.
The aim of the Victoria Cross was to recognise individual acts of gallantry irrespective of rank, length of service, wounds or any other qualities except for "conspicuous bravery".
There have been 1,355 individuals awarded with it worldwide, 190 of which went to Irish servicemen.
However, despite receiving the honour, Mr Hughes returned to a very different Ireland following the events of the Easter Rising in 1916 and found himself on the wrong side of history.
The Monaghan native's grand-niece, Rosemary Hughes-Merry, said the family are delighted that a new generation is being made aware of his heroics.
"We’re super excited that it is here in Co Monaghan because Tommy had such an exciting life, leaving Ireland in 1910 and coming back a hero in 1920.
"His story is kind of like one of a character out of a war movie but it is real life and he is our family member," Ms Hughes-Merry said.
"It is a period of history that maybe wasn’t always great for some areas in the county but now, school kids can come and see it as well as adults and they can appreciate what we have, a hero from Co Monaghan."
Mr Hughes died on 4 January 1942 and is buried in Old Broomfield Cemetery in the east of the county, close to the border with Northern Ireland.
Sometime after his death, when the family fell on hard times, the medal was sold by his sister, but it was later acquired by the National Army Museum in London.
Rosemary’s sister, Cathryna Craig, now works in the parish where her grand uncle is buried, and said it is great to see that the medal has come full circle.
"We’re so proud of him. He was a great man, a great brave man and we’re so proud to see the medal here.
"We have family coming home from abroad who are looking forward to visiting the museum and finally seeing the medal."
Monaghan County Museum moved to its new home, the multi-million euro Peace Campus in the town, in June and also celebrated its 50th birthday earlier this year.
Curator Liam Bradley has said the museum is proud to bring the heroics of the Monaghan man to light again for a new generation to learn about, and to coincide with Armistice Day today.
Mr Bradley also claimed that for its size, Co Monaghan punches above its weight in terms of Victoria Cross recipients.
"It’s the rarest military medal in the world. There were a little over 600 of them awarded during World War I.
"Considering four known Victoria Crosses are associated with people connected to the county, that’s an incredible thing to happen for a small county like Monaghan," Mr Bradley said.
The Victoria Cross awarded to Private Thomas Hughes can be viewed at Monaghan County Museum as part of the 'Bordering Realities - Monaghan People and Stories' exhibition and will be on public display for the next year.
