The Minister for Defence, Mr Smith, will unveil a headstone tomorrow in Co Mayo in memory of an Irish soldier who was awarded a Victoria Cross (VC) by the British army and has lain in an unmarked grave since he died 89 years ago.
Sgt Major Cornelius Coughlan VC was born in Eyrecourt, Co Galway, in 1828, and fought with the 75th Regiment in the Indian Mutiny in 1857, where he won his VC for saving the life of another soldier at the siege of Delhi.
He was later transferred to the Connaught Rangers, and lived in Westport for most of his life.
He was given a funeral with full military honours when he died in 1915.
However, a headstone was never erected, and the location of the grave was only recently discovered by an ex-officer of the Irish Army, Capt Donal Buckley.
"Although he was a popular figure in the town before his death, and his funeral was a grand affair attended by hundreds of local people and the Irish police force, the political wind changed a few months later with the Rising," said Capt Buckley.
"As was the custom of the time, a headstone had not yet been erected, and then after 1916 honouring those who served in the British army became unpopular, and he was forgotten about.
"It's very sad that the grave of this brave Irish warrior hero should have been neglected in this way. The fact that an Irish Minister is honouring the grave in this manner speaks volumes for changing attitudes in this country, and is a great statement of reconciliation and of political maturity."
The unveiling will be accompanied by a military guard of honour, and an Army bugler will play the Last Post.
There will also be wreaths placed by representatives from the Irish United Nations Veterans Organisation and the Organisation of National ex-Servicemen and Women, and a volley from the Connaught Rangers re-enactors.
The ceremony takes place at 1 p.m. in Aughavale Cemetery, Westport. It will be attended by Fine Gael leader Mr Enda Kenny, Mayo TD Dr Jerry Cowley, British Labour MP Mr Andrew McKinlay and representatives from the Irish and British armies