Willam Ratcliffe VC. MM.
I had an email yesterday giving me a last minute notice of a memorial dedication today at 11am.
it is 100 years today since the event and a hero who almost went forgotten.
Ratcliffe was 33 years old, and a private in the 2nd Battalion, the South Lancashire Regiment, British Army during the First World War when the following deed took place during the Battle of Messines for which he was awarded the VC.
On 14 June 1917 at Messines, Belgium, after an enemy trench had been captured, Private Ratcliffe located an enemy machine-gun which was firing on his comrades from the rear, and single-handed, on his own initiative, immediately rushed the machine-gun position and bayoneted the crew. He then brought the gun back into action in the front line. Private Ratcliffe had displayed similar gallantry and resource on previous occasions.[2][3]
After the war he worked on the Liverpool Docks but had to retire after an industrial accident. 1956 saw the Centennial of the institution of the Victoria Cross in London's Hyde Park, where the living holders were reviewed by Queen Elizabeth II. William Ratcliffe was reluctant to attend the Centennial because his circumstances were such that he could not afford to buy a suit for the occasion. This was remedied however by a local gents outfitters, who made a new suit for him.[4] His VC is on loan to the Imperial War Museum in Lambeth Road, London.
A memorial stone is to be unveiled in the gardens of Liverpool Parish Church today in his honour.
We will remember them.
Paul
Addendum.
I have just found his Photo. The Maxim gun he captured is on display at the Lancashire Infantry Museum in Fulwood, Preston
also the site of a regimental Chapel built by
JM Chard VC RE no less.!