11th Bn
XX The Lancashire Fusiliers
1914 - 1918

Joel Halliwell VC

(1881-1958)
Born in Middleton on 29th December 1881, Lance Corporal Joel Halliwell was to be awarded the Victoria Cross for "...conspicuous bravery and devotion to duty".
On 27 May 1918, Halliwell was captured by the Germans and remained a prisoner with them for a short time before he managed to escape. On his way back to the British lines, seeing many wounded comrades lying on the ground, he mounted a stray German horse which he rode back to pick up a wounded man and brought him back to safety, in spite of heavy shellfire. He went on to repeat this process, back and forth, through heavy enemy gunfire, with no thought for his own safety, some ten times, until his horse received a severe wound and he could no longer continue.
Lance Corporal Halliwell was a modest man, maintaining that he had simply done as he was told and that 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.
He returned to Middleton amid public jubilation and a civic welcome by the Mayor and Mayoress of the borough.
Joel Halliwell died on the 14th June 1958.

Joel Halliwell VC

Lance Corporal Joel Halliwell of Parkfield, Middleton served in the Lancashire Fusiliers in World War 1. In 1918 he was captured by the Germans and was a prisoner before escaping back to the British territory. He was met with carnage along the way seeing many of his comrades lying wounded in the chaotic 'no mans land.' Finding a stray horse, he rode back through the heavy shell and gunfire to pick up the wounded from the battlefield and take them back to safety. Braving these terrifying conditions he was able to return and one by one, picked up 10 of his comrades until unfortunately the horse was fatally wounded. He then trekked well over a mile or so and back to bring water for the wounded. He modestly maintained that he had simply done what any comrade would have done having had the chance as it was only their duty. How he wasn't hit himself is nothing short of a miracle but saving his comrades was foremost on his mind rather than that of his own safety.

He returned to Middleton where he was celebrated a hero. Thousands rallied to witness the civic parade laid on to welcome Joel and to see this brave man of our town for themselves. He recieved the Victoria Cross for valour, the highest award possible and remains the only Middleton man to date to have recieved this honour. In all, 1,356 VC's have been awarded. Lance Corporal Halliwell was one of 19 Lancashire Fusiliers to recieve one.

He went on to get married, have 3 children and run The New Inn on Long St. He even tried to enlist to fight in WW2 but by this time, his age went against him and he was refused. He died in 1958 his funeral having full military honours and is buried in Boarshaw Cemetary.

48934 Pte Francis Taylor

enlisted into the 11th Bn of the Lancashire Fusiliers,he was then at Lower Stratton in Wilts.
He had previously served in the Hertfordshire Regiment with his Regimental number then being 10071.
In my experience,I believe that he had been wounded with the Herts regiment,been returned to the UK (Swindon) to recuperate and then re-enlisted into the LFs.
He was killed in action on the 1st April 1918.

TAYLOR, FRANCIS
Initials: F
Nationality: United Kingdom
Rank: Private
Regiment/Service: Lancashire Fusiliers
Unit Text: 11th Bn.
Date of Death: 01/04/1918
Service No: 48934
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference: Panel 4.
Memorial: PLOEGSTEERT MEMORIA

Francis his wife Frances Lilian Dash

sent in by
Helen Williams
(Francis Granddaughter)

Captain Thomas Rufus, MC

"A Coy" 11th Bn. Lancashire Fusiliers. Killed in action 14/04/1918, aged 28.

Click here to go to
Ploegsteert Memorial

Pte Tom E. Sizer 11th Bn Lancashire Fusiliers

Killed in Action
23 March 1918
ARRAS
http://www.cwgc.org/search/certificate.aspx?casualty=1653164
The newspaper cutting below tells of a wall plaque, engraved with the name of Tom Sizer.
It was found in a scrap yard, and later hung over the bar in the Brickcroft Tavern, off Taylor St in Bury.
It now hangs in the Regimental Club.(See below)


Sent in by Tom Sizer's Grandson, Keith.

29468 Pte Walter Tomlinson