Bombardier
05-04-05, 18:04
An excerpt from the my local newspaper The Middleton Guardian (http://www.middletonguardian.co.uk)
Victoria Cross
"AFTER may days in September 1918 of much speculation and rumour, Middleton's own Victoria Cross winner Lance Corporal Joel Halliwell is back amongst us, sound and well looking as if he had been spending a month in Blackpool rather than amidst the bitterness of France.
He is home with his father and mother in their modest dwelling in Parkfield, a splendid reminder that British deeds of valour are not counted by the degree of social standing, but by the spirit within the man.
The mayor and mayoress, Alderman and Mrs W M Wiggins were early astir after learning by telephone that our hero was within a few miles of Middleton.
The train bearing Halliwell was due at 9.33am. Several thousand people had already gathered about the station entrance having poured out of the mills and workshops.
As soon as he got out of the train the mayor shook his hand and gave a sort speech of welcome. Three cheers were given and he was taken home by carriage preceded by the Middleton Borough Band playing 'See the Conquering Hero Comes'. Down Townley Street, past the Military Hospital - with cheers from the staff and nurses and patients assembled on the steps - Market Place, Mancester Old Road and into Parkfield. Flags were flying from many vantage points.
But the most touching welcome was at his old school, Parkfield, where he was greeted by the children signing God Bless the Soldiers.
And it was there that his heroic deeds, which earned him the Victoria Cross, were recounted...
It was on 27 May, after a big push, that Halliwell was captured by the Germans and remained a prisoner with them for a short time. Halliwell said to himself, however, England is better than Germany, consequently he summoned up all his energy and managed to escape.
In regaining our own lines though, he saw many wounded comrades lying on the ground. Seeing a stray German horse he mounted it, rode back and picked up a wouned man and brought him back to safety, in spite of heavy shellfire. Halliwell repeated his noble act ten times, going into the very jaws of death, and he only desisted when his horse received a severe wound.
The Victoria Cross was conferred for conspicuous bravery and devotion to duty.
Lance Corporal Halliwell told the children he was pleased to see them all and he considered it a great honour to have been a Parkfield scholar. As for what he had done to gain his VC, he simply did as he was told, and it was not always the man who did the biggest thing that came off est.
He said any other man in his battalion would have done what he had done if they had the chance, as they never thought of anything but their duty.
They were asked to do things and they did them. Of course there was grumbling at the same time, but the more they grumbled the more they worked. He went on to say that he did not have long to stay as he expected to o back the following night.
To mark the school's appreciation he was presented with a pocket wallet containing four pound notes, three ten shilling notes and one gold sovereign."
Victoria Cross
"AFTER may days in September 1918 of much speculation and rumour, Middleton's own Victoria Cross winner Lance Corporal Joel Halliwell is back amongst us, sound and well looking as if he had been spending a month in Blackpool rather than amidst the bitterness of France.
He is home with his father and mother in their modest dwelling in Parkfield, a splendid reminder that British deeds of valour are not counted by the degree of social standing, but by the spirit within the man.
The mayor and mayoress, Alderman and Mrs W M Wiggins were early astir after learning by telephone that our hero was within a few miles of Middleton.
The train bearing Halliwell was due at 9.33am. Several thousand people had already gathered about the station entrance having poured out of the mills and workshops.
As soon as he got out of the train the mayor shook his hand and gave a sort speech of welcome. Three cheers were given and he was taken home by carriage preceded by the Middleton Borough Band playing 'See the Conquering Hero Comes'. Down Townley Street, past the Military Hospital - with cheers from the staff and nurses and patients assembled on the steps - Market Place, Mancester Old Road and into Parkfield. Flags were flying from many vantage points.
But the most touching welcome was at his old school, Parkfield, where he was greeted by the children signing God Bless the Soldiers.
And it was there that his heroic deeds, which earned him the Victoria Cross, were recounted...
It was on 27 May, after a big push, that Halliwell was captured by the Germans and remained a prisoner with them for a short time. Halliwell said to himself, however, England is better than Germany, consequently he summoned up all his energy and managed to escape.
In regaining our own lines though, he saw many wounded comrades lying on the ground. Seeing a stray German horse he mounted it, rode back and picked up a wouned man and brought him back to safety, in spite of heavy shellfire. Halliwell repeated his noble act ten times, going into the very jaws of death, and he only desisted when his horse received a severe wound.
The Victoria Cross was conferred for conspicuous bravery and devotion to duty.
Lance Corporal Halliwell told the children he was pleased to see them all and he considered it a great honour to have been a Parkfield scholar. As for what he had done to gain his VC, he simply did as he was told, and it was not always the man who did the biggest thing that came off est.
He said any other man in his battalion would have done what he had done if they had the chance, as they never thought of anything but their duty.
They were asked to do things and they did them. Of course there was grumbling at the same time, but the more they grumbled the more they worked. He went on to say that he did not have long to stay as he expected to o back the following night.
To mark the school's appreciation he was presented with a pocket wallet containing four pound notes, three ten shilling notes and one gold sovereign."