When I was shown to my office in the House of Commons there was nothing on the walls save for a poster which had clearly been there for some time. A handsome face looked out from the poster but I did not recognize his name, Walter Tull. Walter was born in 1888 and by the age of 10 he had sadly lost both his parents and was sent to an orphanage in Bethnal Green. Despite many challenges he went on to sign for Tottenham Hotspur in 1909 but his life went down a very different path when he bravely enlisted with the Middlesex Regiment at the outbreak of World War 1. He became one of the first mixed heritage officers in a regular British Army regiment and was praised for his “ gallantry and coolness,” having led 26 men on a night raiding party and returning them unharmed and was recommended for the Military Cross. Sadly in March 1918, Walter was lost in action but his memory and bravery live on and I am inspired by his story every day.
Walter was and will always be a hero because he embodies those qualities of sacrifice, dedication, hard work, kindness and many others that we should all inspire to in our everyday lives. Thankfully we will never experience a conflict like World War 1 again and as we have seen during the pandemic heroism is not defined by the battlefield but by your deeds and actions towards others. However each town in the country has their own Walter Tull, who served during the great war with their own story to tell and as we approach Remembrance Sunday it is important to have their sacrifice at the forefront of our minds and think how their selfless bravery, can be further commemorated to inspire each generation that is to come.
Recently I was honoured to attend an event to mark the 116th anniversary of the death of George Stanley Peachment VC. George is Bury’s only recipient of the Victoria Cross World War 1 and was the youngest army recipient of our highest honour for bravery during the conflict. His citation reads as follows, “ ..Pte. Peachment seeing his Company Commander, Captain Dubs lying wounded crawled to assist him..Pte. Peachment never thought of saving himself. He knelt in the open by his Officer and tried to help him, but while doing this he was first wounded by a bomb and a minute later mortally wounded by a rifle bullet.” A native of Tottington, George Stanley Peachment VC died aged 18 years 4 months.
The event to commemorate George Peachment and to ensure his memory is kept alive has been running since 2018 due to the dedication of residents living at Peachment Place, named in his honour and for that we should all be grateful. However during the poignant service, Padre Hugh Bearne from St Ann’s Church in Tottington raised the possibility of a more permanent memorial with the suggested naming of a road or street within the area where he lived as a permanent reminder to those who live locally of his sacrifice in attempting to protect Captain Dubs.
In an age where our role models are more usually to be found on the football field or on television a long way away from our home areas and everyday lives, I hope Bury Council will support Hugh’s campaign to ensure every young person from Tottington and Bury will never forget the courage and self-sacrifice of George Stanley Peachment VC and be inspired by him every day.
I try to use this column to highlight the work and commitment of local heroes within our community, whose deeds I am lucky enough to be aware of making a difference to peoples lives everyday. One example of this is the Pauline Quirke Performing Arts School based at Holcombe Brook Primary School. Andrea and her team inspire a new generation of performers in an inspiring, inclusive environment and their achievements are phenomenal. On my way out, I noticed a display and a name. It was Walter Tull. Heroes from the present day and over a century ago inspiring Bury school children and we should all be grateful for that.
