Wigan Album
World War One
4 Comments
Photo: Rev David Long
Item #: 34877
Whilst there I photographed some of the War Memorials there - including the cenotaph in the War Memorial Chapel. It holds the Roll of Honour for over 40,000 from Liverpool and District lost in WW1. By chance it was open at the page commemorating the Stubshaw Cross VC, William Kenealy.
David, the Roll of Honour is very beautifully illuminated and lettered, well done to whoever took the time and the effort to produce it, and in memory and honour of those fallen in WW1, thanks for posting a photo of it.
Only part of the story of the "6 VCs before breakfast" is told here. Although six men were proposed to receive the VC for their bravery on what became known, in their honour, as 'Lancashire Landing', the brass hats decided only three would be awarded - and Kenealy was one of those. The officers in the field, however, pressed for all six VCs to be awarded, and won their case. One of the other three to be honoured was Private John Grimshaw, of nearby Abram.
On wiganworld there is a thread of comments about Stubshaw Cross local heroes of WW1, William Kenealy VC and Jack Davies MM: https://www.wiganworld.co.uk/communicate/mb_message.php?opt=f2&opt2=&msd=323931&offset=1760&subject=local%20heroes%20of%20WW1
and here's a webpage on John Elisha Grimshaw VC. from Abram, along with links to other webpages including the 6 VCs before breakfast and also about Gallipoli .
http://grimshaworigin.org/miscellaneous-grimshaw-individuals/john-elisha-grimshaw/
We will remember them Rev. David and i read William was fatally wounded two months later at the battle of Gully Ravine.