John
Molyneux VC (22nd November 1890 to 25th
March 1972)
John’s dad was a coal miner in
St Helens and he left school aged 12 to follow him working down the local pit
in Sherdley. He hacked coal off the seam and cut it
up. He had four sisters.
By 26 he was a sergeant in the The Royal
Fusiliers and was fighting in the First World War World. On Tuesday 9th October
1917 he was fighting east of Langemarck in Belgium when
his troop were held up by attack. John witnessed machine-fire cut down and kill
many of his peers. He organised a bombing party to clear a trench. They stormed
ahead and many Germans were killed and a widow-making machine-gun captured.
John then called for someone to follow him and they rushed to overthrow an
occupied house. By the time the extra men arrived John in the middle of a
hand-to-hand fight. The Germans surrendered and about twenty 30 prisoners were
taken.
He didn’t like limelight and
upon returning home he was picked up by the Mayor and Mayoress
of St Helens in an open carriage but kept his face down. A neighbour saw him
and shouted, “Lift thee ‘ead
up, Johnny!” He returned to the colliery.
Aged 29 he married Mary Lyne and they went on to
have two children. Aged 35 he worked for glass-makers Pilkington Bros and later
in a sheet works. He never moved away
from St Helens and died aged 81 after collapsing in the street on an errand for
a neighbour. He was cremated at St Helens Crematorium and his ashes were
scattered there.
He didn’t like limelight and
upon returning home he was picked up by the Mayor and Mayoress
of St Helens in an open carriage but kept his face down. A neighbour saw him
and shouted, “Lift thee ‘ead
up, Johnny!” He returned to the colliery. Aged 29 he married Mary Lyne and they
went on to have two children. Aged 35 he worked for glass-makers Pilkington
Bros and later in a sheet works. He never moved away from St Helens and died
aged 81 after collapsing in the street on an errand for a neighbour. He was
cremated at St Helens Crematorium and his ashes were scattered there.
I had a stroll around the grounds even though
there wasn't a grave to see. John's ashes were scattered in Section 3 of the
Garden Of Remembrance. As usual there were the lots of new ashes and flowers
dotted around at random spots. I prefer a grave to touch and salute but I just
had to salute the crematorium chimney instead.
In the memorial gardens where many
lots of ashes are scattered…
Not many people in the world have
been awarded a Victoria Cross medal…
There’s the medal (first one)…
