Joel Halliwell
Encyclopedia
Joel Halliwell VC
(29 December 1881 – 14 June 1958) was an English
recipient of the Victoria Cross
, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British
and Commonwealth
forces.
during the First World War
when he performed a deed at the Third Battle of the Aisne
for which he was awarded the Victoria Cross.
On 27 May 1918 at Muscourt
, France, when the remnants of the battalion were withdrawing and being closely engaged by the enemy, Lance-Corporal Halliwell, having captured a stray horse, rode out under heavy rifle and machine-gun fire and rescued a man from No Man's Land. He repeated this performance several times and succeeded in rescuing an officer and nine other ranks. He made a last effort to reach a wounded man but was driven back by the very close advance of the enemy.
, Greater Manchester
with his family.
Victoria Cross
The Victoria Cross is the highest military decoration awarded for valour "in the face of the enemy" to members of the armed forces of various Commonwealth countries, and previous British Empire territories....
(29 December 1881 – 14 June 1958) was an English
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
recipient of the Victoria Cross
Victoria Cross
The Victoria Cross is the highest military decoration awarded for valour "in the face of the enemy" to members of the armed forces of various Commonwealth countries, and previous British Empire territories....
, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
and Commonwealth
Commonwealth of Nations
The Commonwealth of Nations, normally referred to as the Commonwealth and formerly known as the British Commonwealth, is an intergovernmental organisation of fifty-four independent member states...
forces.
Details
Halliwell was 37 years old, and a lance-corporal in the 11th Battalion, The Lancashire Fusiliers, British ArmyBritish Army
The British Army is the land warfare branch of Her Majesty's Armed Forces in the United Kingdom. It came into being with the unification of the Kingdom of England and Scotland into the Kingdom of Great Britain in 1707. The new British Army incorporated Regiments that had already existed in England...
during the First World War
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
when he performed a deed at the Third Battle of the Aisne
Third Battle of the Aisne
The Third Battle of the Aisne was a battle of the German Spring Offensive during World War I that focused on capturing the Chemin des Dames Ridge before the American Expeditionary Force could arrive completely in France. It was one of a series of desperate offensives, known as the Kaiserschlacht,...
for which he was awarded the Victoria Cross.
On 27 May 1918 at Muscourt
Muscourt
Muscourt is a commune in the Aisne department in Picardy in northern France....
, France, when the remnants of the battalion were withdrawing and being closely engaged by the enemy, Lance-Corporal Halliwell, having captured a stray horse, rode out under heavy rifle and machine-gun fire and rescued a man from No Man's Land. He repeated this performance several times and succeeded in rescuing an officer and nine other ranks. He made a last effort to reach a wounded man but was driven back by the very close advance of the enemy.
The medal
The medal is in MiddletonMiddleton, Greater Manchester
Middleton is a town within the Metropolitan Borough of Rochdale, in Greater Manchester, England. It stands on the River Irk, south-southwest of Rochdale, and north-northeast of the city of Manchester...
, Greater Manchester
Greater Manchester
Greater Manchester is a metropolitan county in North West England, with a population of 2.6 million. It encompasses one of the largest metropolitan areas in the United Kingdom and comprises ten metropolitan boroughs: Bolton, Bury, Oldham, Rochdale, Stockport, Tameside, Trafford, Wigan, and the...
with his family.
External links
- Middleton
- Location of grave and VC medal (Lancashire)