When John Moyney, of Rathdowney, Co Laois, died at his home in Roscrea, Co Tipperary, in 1981, it marked the end of an era which went back to the trenches in the first World War.
John, who was a railway porter with the Great Southern and Western Railway and retired from CIE in 1960, was the last surviving Irishman to win the Victoria Cross in the Great War.
Today, in London, his actions will be recalled when a pair of wire-cutters he used in a famous engagement, which earned him the VC, will be handed over to the Regimental Museum of the Irish Guards.
Sgt Moyney won the VC in 1917 when, during the third battle of Ypres, he found himself in command of 15 men who were hopelessly outnumbered by German troops at Broenbeek.
He held his post, surrounded by thousands of German troops, for 96 hours before breaking out to the French lines and safety. He and another man gave covering fire while their colleagues cut their way through barbed wire and escaped.
Mr Moyney, who travelled to London every St Patrick's Day to receive his shamrock, gave his VC to the Irish Guards museum many years ago, but he retained the wire-cutters.
In later years he gave the wire-cutters to his friend Bill Moynan of Roscrea. The cutters were later passed on to Bob Dunne, Gloster, Birr.
According to Garry Morrissey, from Roscrea, Bob Dunne, whose sister Violet was married to Bill Moynan's son, Herbert, felt the cutters should go to the museum in London.
"We arranged that the cutters go to a craft firm near Athlone, Celtic Roots, where they were mounted on a piece of yew which has been dated as being 4,800 years old," Garry said.
"The wood is from the Irish midlands which bred John Moyney and we also arranged that a cap badge of the Irish Guards be mounted on the piece as well," he said.
Last weekend Garry and Bob brought the cutters to London. Later today they will be handed over to the museum at the Regimental Headquarters, Wellington Barracks.