Memorial Walk renamed RSM James Clarke VC Walk

Memorial walk renamed RSM James Clarke VC Walk

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The footpath surrounding the Memorial Gardens in Rochdale town centre has been renamed to RSM James Clarke VC Walk, in honour of fallen soldier James Clarke.

Speaking about the ceremony, Councillor Alan McCarthy said: “We British have traditionally been very good at paying tribute to past heroes, past sacrifices and past historic events. One thinks mainly of Remembrance Sunday, D-Day, and VE Day.

“On Sunday (21 June) we paid tribute to a true hero of Rochdale. We stood in wonderful surroundings with the Town Hall and The Cenotaph as a back drop, surrounded by the Memorial Gardens, a place of remembrance, a place of celebration, a place that has and will remain central to the armed forces family within the community. A fitting place that will bear the name of a true hero, RSM James Clarke VC.”

RSM James Clarke was born on 6 April 1894 in Winsford, Cheshire. He left school at the age of 14 and went to work as a day labourer. He moved to Rochdale in 1913 where he worked as a carter for Butterworth Brothers in Milnrow. He later worked at William Tatham and Sons engineers.

He married in August 1915 and lived on Clyde Street, off of Vavasour Court and enlisted with the 6th Battalion Lancashire Fusiliers in October of that year. He was posted to the Western Front, where he rose to the rank of Regimental Sergeant Major.

On 1 February 1919 a large crowd welcomed him home to Rochdale, where he was presented with commemorative gifts including a gold watch. Days later he was presented with the Victoria Cross by King George V at Buckingham Palace.

His war experiences left Mr Clarke with precarious health, and it was difficult to find steady work. At one point he operated a barrel-organ, first in Manchester and then in central London.

Mr Clarke was healthy enough to participate in the World War II Victory Parade on 8 June 1946.

He died in 1947 of pneumonia at Birch Hill Hospital and was buried with full military honours in Rochdale Cemetery a few days later.

His grave remained marked by only a simple wooden cross until 1994 when the Lancashire Fusiliers Regimental Association spearheaded a drive to replace the cross with a more permanent marker.