ROCHDALE 'Touchtones' : Further Exhibitions

The 150th Anniversary of the Victoria Cross
Sunday 29th January 2006
Three Lancashire Towns - Three Local Heroes
Exhibition at Touchstones Rochdale honours VC holders from
Middleton, Heywood and Rochdale
Opens 28 January

This Sunday marks the 150th anniversary of the Victoria Cross - the
nation's highest award for valour. It was founded by Royal Warrant on
January 29th, 1856 to recognise the bravery of those who were then fighting the Crimean War. Since its inception the Victoria Cross has been awarded 1,355 times and amongst its recipients three are buried within the present Borough of Rochdale - Joel Halliwell in Middleton, James Clarke in Rochdale and Anthony Palmer in Heywood.

To mark this anniversary Touchstones Rochdale will display for the
first time Joel Halliwell's medals, including his VC, that have been kindly
loaned by his family for the duration of the exhibition. In addition two
inscribed gold pocket watches presented on behalf of the residents of
Rochdale and Middleton, to James Clarke and Joel Halliwell respectively,
will also be on view. Less is known about the Heywood's other hero, Anthony
Palmer except that he was one of the first men to receive the award for his
actions during the Crimean war. His medal currently resides in the Guards
Museum in London.

A brief summary of each man's remarkable story is outlined below.
Between them they encapsulate the extraordinary heroism of ordinary people
from the North West in times of war. In the cases of Halliwell, who tried to
enlist again at age 57 in 1939, and Clarke, who was reduced to begging on
the streets of Manchester, their subsequent peace time experiences also
provide a moving story.

Touchstones Rochdale is located on The Esplanade in Rochdale town
centre. Entry to the centre is free. The centre is open seven days a week, Monday to Friday 10am-5.30pm and Saturday and Sunday 11am-4.30pm. The centre offers a museum, four art galleries, a heritage gallery, Tourist Information Centre, Café and shop with regular events and workshops. For further information ring 01706 864986 or visit www.rochdale.gov.uk/touchstones.

Joel Halliwell was born in Middleton on the 29th December 1873.
On leaving school he became a general labourer in the Middleton
Cotton Mill, eventually moving to foreman. When the First World War broke
out he enlisted as a Private giving his age as 33, though in fact he was
over 40. He joined the 11th Battalion, Lancashire Fusiliers on 17th November
1914. Halliwell was promoted to Lance-Corporal in 1917 and at Muscourt in
France on 27th May 1918 he performed the act of valour that earned him the
Victoria Cross, as described in the London Gazette 25th July 1918:

No. 9860, LANCE-CORPORAL JOEL HALLIWELL, 11th Battalion

"For most conspicuous bravery and determination displayed during the withdrawal of the remnants of the battalion when closely engaged with the enemy. Lance-Corporal Halliwell, having captured a stray enemy horse, rode out under heavy rifle and machine-gun fire and rescued a wounded man from 'No man's Land.' He repeated this performance several times, and succeeded in rescuing one officer and nine other ranks. He made another effort to reach a wounded man, but was driven back by the very close advance of the enemy. His conduct was magnificent throughout, and was a splendid and inspiring example to all who saw him."

When Joel Halliwell came home on leave in the September of 1918,
word quickly spread around Middleton of his imminent arrival and he was met at the station by several thousand appreciative people from the mills and workshops. He was driven in the Mayor's carriage through the streets to his parents' home, via Parkfield, his old school, where he recounted in modest terms his act of bravery. He also was given a gold watch, the inscription of which read:

"Presented to Lance-Corporal Joel Halliwell V.C.by the Mayor and
Mayoress of Middleton (Alderman & Mrs. W.M.Wiggins) in recognition of his wonderful Courage and resource in bringing into safety wounded men, which gained for him the Victoria Cross 1918"

Joel Halliwell then married and in 1923 became a father to the first
of three daughters. This remarkable man then attempted to enlist when the second World War began at the age of 57, but was rejected due to poor eyesight and the wound in his leg that he had received in WW1. He died on June 14th 1958 and was buried in Boarshaw New Cemetery.

James Clarke was born in Cheshire in 1894 and moved to Rochdale in 1913, working for Butterworth Brothers in Milnrow, then William Tatham & Sons in Rochdale. In August 1915 he married and as the First World War had broken out a year earlier he enlisted into the 6th (Rochdale) Battalion, Lancashire Fusiliers later transferring to the 15th (Service) Battalion. He was posted to the Western Front and eventually gained the rank of Regimental
Sergeant-Major.

His award of the Victoria Cross was recorded in the London Gazette
on 6th January 1919 as follows:

No. 37721, Sergeant (Acting Company-Sergeant-Major)
JAMES Clarke, 15TH Battalion

'For most conspicuous bravery and initiative during the attack at
Happegarbe, France, on November 2nd, 1918, when in command of a platoon. He led his men forward with great determination, and, on being held up with heavy machine-gun fire, rushed forward through a thick, strongly held ridge, captured in succession four machine guns, and single-handed bayoneted the crews. Later, he led the remnants of his platoon to the capture of three machine guns and many prisoners.'
In the later stages of the attack on the same day, when his platoon
was held up by enemy machine guns, he successfully led a tank against them over very exposed ground.
Continuing the attack on November 3rd, after capturing many prisoners and gaining his objective, he organised his line most skilfully and held up the enemy.
On 4th November in the attack on the Oise-Sambre Canal, under heavy
fire from the canal bank, he rushed forward with a Lewis-gun team in the face of an intense barrage, brought the gun into action, effectively silenced the enemy's fire, thus enabling his company to advance and gain their objectives.
Throughout the whole of these operations Sergeant Clarke acted with
magnificent bravery and total disregard of personal safety and by his
gallantry and high sense of duty set an inspiring example to all ranks.

As well as receiving the Victoria Cross he was also greeted by a large crowd at a civic reception given in his honour where he was presented with a gold watch inscribed with these words:

"Presented by the Mayor on behalf of the Citizens of Rochdale to
mark their admiration of his splendid Courage. Feb. 1st 1919."

Year's later James Clarke lost his job as a stoker due to ill health. With three children to support he was unsuccessful in finding other work and resorted to playing a barrel-organ on the streets of Manchester in order to make some money. In 1933 he took to the streets of London and was arrested for obstructing the footpath, but the judge, learning of his war record discharged him on probation.

James Clarke died back in Rochdale on the 16th June 1947, aged 54,
and was buried with military honours in Rochdale cemetery.

Private Anthony Palmer VC is buried in a grave in Heywood Cemetery
marked with a special slate tablet, although it is not known how he came to be buried there. He was born in Congleton in 1819 and was enlisted in the Grenadier Guards in 1838. He received the Victoria Cross for his actions with a band of men at Inkerman, Crimea, on 5 November 1854. They volunteered to follow Major Sir Charles Russell, successfully defending him and saving him from an assailant who tried to bayonet Sir Charles. Palmer received his medal at the first ever Vicitoria Cross award ceremony in June 1857.He died in Manchester in 1892 and was buried in Heywood .

* Links www.victoriacross.org.uk www.victoriacrosssociety.com

For further Information please contact:

* David Pugh, Museum Access Officer
* Email: david.pugh@rochdale.gov.uk. Tel: 01706 864938 /01706 641085
*
* Mashuda Begum , Marketing Officer
Email: mashuda.begum@rochdale.gov.uk. Tel: 01706 864942.

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