St.Helens Borough's First World War Victoria Cross Winners

St.Helens Borough’s First World War Victoria Cross Winners John (Jack) Molyneux V.C. Sergeant, 2 nd Battalion, Royal Fusiliers Born 22 nd November 1890, in Sutton Died 25 th March 1972, in St.Helens Interred at St Helens Crematorium Jack Molyneux’s Victoria Cross is displayed at the Royal Fusiliers Museum, Tower of London, England John Molyneux was born at number 3 Marshalls Cross Road on the 22 nd November 1890, to mother Minnie and coal miner father Joseph, who worked as a hewer at Sherdley Colliery. The family moved to 8 Manor Street in 1891, and shortly afterwards moved to Ell Bess Lane, which, in 1902, was renamed Sherdley Road. John, known locally as Jack, was educated at Holy Trinity School but left at the age of 12 to work in the mines. John Molyneux won his Victoria Cross for his bravery in action on 9 th October 1917 near Langemarck in Belgium, when the British attack was held up by machine-gun fire from a German trench. John organised a bombing party which captured the gun and killed the crew. He then jumped from the trench, calling for his comrades to follow him. He ran to a nearby house which was occupied by the enemy. Before any help could arrive, John became engaged in hand-to-hand combat. The enemy quickly surrendered and 20-30 prisoners were taken. John was 26 years of age when he won his Victoria Cross. John Molyneux VC died on the 25 th March 1972 at Ashtons Green Home in Parr, aged 81. He was cremated at St.Helens Cemetery and his ashes were scattered in the Garden of Remembrance. John Thomas Davies V.C. Corporal, 11 th (S) Battalion, South Lancashire Regiment Born 29 th September 1895, in Rock Ferry, Wirral Died 28 th October 1955, in St.Helens Buried in St.Helens Cemetery John Thomas Davies’ Victoria Cross is displayed at the Imperial War Museum, London, England Born in Rock Ferry, Birkenhead on 29 th September 1895, John Thomas Davies won his Victoria Cross on the 24 th March 1918 when his company was outflanked on both sides near Eppeville in France. He knew that the only line of withdrawal lay through a deep stream lined with a belt of barbed wire. To hold back the enemy as long as possible, he mounted the parapet, fully exposed, and fired his Lewis gun into the Germans and checked their advance sufficiently to allow part of his company to get across the obstacle. He was eventually captured and taken prisoner. As John was not seen being captured, the official Gazette incorrectly related that he ‘was in all probability killed at his gun.’ John was 22 years of age when he won his Victoria Cross. John spent the vast majority of his life in St.Helens, living at 5 Sutton Heath Road before the Great War, and at 10 Alma Street, Peasley Cross after his return. During WWII he was a Captain in the St.Helens Home Guard. John Thomas Davies VC died on 28 th October 1955, aged 60 years. He is buried in St.Helens Cemetery, Section 59, Grave 426. St.Helens Borough’s First World War Victoria Cross Winners Norman Harvey V.C. Private, 1 st Battalion, Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers Born 6th April 1899 in Newton-le-Willows Died 16 th February 1942, killed in action near Haifa during WW2 Buried at Khayat Beach Cemetery, Haifa, Israel Norman Harvey’s Victoria Cross is displayed at the Regimental Museum of The Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers, Enniskillen, Northern Ireland Born in Newton-Le-Willows on 6th April 1899 to mother Mary and father Charles William, Norman Harvey enlisted in the 4 th Battalion South Lancashire Regiment in November 1914, when he was only fifteen years old. He was transferred to the 1st Battalion, Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers in April 1918 Norman won his Victoria Cross on October 25 th , 1918 when his battalion was held up and suffering severe casualties from machine-gun fire at Ingoyhem in Belgium. He ran forward and engaged the enemy single-handed, killing two, wounding one and capturing twelve men and two guns. Later he rushed a machine-gun hidden in a farmhouse and put the enemy to flight. When night fell, he went out alone and gathered important information. Throughout these actions, Norman was limping as he has sustained a sprained ankle. According to his Sergeant, ‘He seemed to bear a charmed life.’ Norman was 19 years of age when he won his Victoria Cross. After the War, Norman Harvey VC lived at Old Station, Parkside Road, Newton-Le-Willows. In 1939, at the outbreak of WWII, he re-enlisted in the Royal Engineers, joining 199 Railway Workshop Company. He was promoted to Company Quartermaster Sergeant, but was killed in action on the 16 th February 1942 in what was then Palestine. He is buried in Khayat Cemetery, Haifa, Israel. Frederick William Hall V.C. Company Sergeant Major, 8 th Bn. (90 th Rifles) Born 21 st February 1885 in Kilkenny, Ireland Died 24 th April 1915, killed in action during the Second Battle of Ypres in Belgium Frederick William Hall has no known grave; his name is recorded on the Menin Gate (Ypres) Memorial, Belgium Frederick’s Victoria Cross is displayed at the Canadian War Museum, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada Born in Kilkenny, Ireland on 21st February 1885, Frederick Hall’s family moved to 81 Ormskirk Street, St.Helens in 1891; when he was just 6 years old. Spending his formative years in the town, Frederick immigrated to Canada around 1910, at the age of 25. Frederick won his Victoria Cross on 24th April 1915. During a German attack on the Canadian Division, a wounded man lay crying for help 15 yards from the trench. Under heavy gunfire, Frederick ventured out of the trench and crawled towards the wounded soldier. He slid himself underneath the man to lift him up but was shot and killed when he raised his head to assess his position. Fredrick was 30 years old when he won his Victoria Cross. In Canada, Frederick Hall VC had lived on Pine Street in Winnipeg, Mannitoba. This was renamed Valour Road in 1925 because three Canadian Victoria Cross recipients had lived there. Frederick Hall’s father, (Frederick Snr.), a Bandmaster in the South Lancashire Regiment, died in 1905. He is buried in St.Helens Cemetery, Section 12, Grave 118. Frederick William Hall’s Victoria Cross is mentioned on his Father’s gravestone. .

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