Lancashire Fusilier Victoria Crosses united for first time at The Fusilier Museum

A special exhibition to commemorate 100 years since the end of the First World War entitled - 18 for 18 tells the extraordinary stories of the eighteen Lancashire Fusiliers who were awarded the Victoria Cross during the First World War, it includes RSM James Clarke VC from Rochdale and Joel Halliwell VC from Middleton.

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.

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.

Lance Corporal Joel Halliwell V.C, Middleton’s Victoria Cross recipient, was recognised with the unveiling of a street sign in his honour in the town centre. Corporation Street is now LCpl Joel Halliwell V.C. Way.

 

 

Joel Halliwell VC was a lance-corporal in the 11th Battalion of the Lancashire Fusiliers. After the war he was awarded the Victoria Cross – the highest military honour for valour in the face of possible death. He returned to his home in Middleton after the war and was landlord at the New Inn on Long Street. He was buried in Boarshaw cemetery in 1958.

It will be the first time ever that 17 of the 18 VC’s has been on display in one place.

Sadly the 18th medal which belonged to Bertram Best Dunkley is still missing despite an international search to try and locate it earlier in the year. It is believed to still be in the UK, probably in private ownership following a private sale through Spinks Auction House, London in 1986 but its exact location hasn’t been confirmed.

The Victoria Cross is the highest medal awarded for gallantry in the British and Commonwealth Armed Forces and recognises extreme bravery. During the First World War the Lancashire Fusiliers won eighteen Victoria Crosses, more than any other British infantry regiment.

The museum has five of the VC’s in its collection, eight are being kindly loaned to the museum from Lord Ashcroft’s private collection which is the largest collection of its kind in the world. A further three of the medals remain with the families of the VC winners and are being privately loaned to the museum for the duration of the exhibition as well as the Marshall VC which is being loaned from The Guards Museum in London.

The special exhibition to commemorate 100 years since the end of the First World War will open at The Fusilier Museum, Bury on Friday 5 October 2018.