A lasting memorial to Oswestry Victoria Cross soldier

Sergeant Whitfield was awarded the Victoria Cross in 1918, the 945th recipient of the highest medal of valour.

A century later and he has a inscribed stone in Oswestry's Cae Glas Park, close to the entrance gates that double as a war memorial to the fallen of two world wars.

Military historian Richard Pursehouse is researching the lives all all VC recipients in the Midlands for a book and has uncovered some fascinating facts about Sergeant Whitfield. He writes:

"He joined the Shropshire Yeomanry from his home in the town in 1908 and was mobilised in August 1914, first seeing action in Palestine. In March 1917 the Yeomanry morphed with the Cheshire Yeomanry to become the 10th Battalion Kings Shropshire Light Infantry.

"In March 1918 during the Battle of Tel Asur the regiment captured the hill of Birj-el-Lisaneh. Recognizing a Turkish counter-attack was about to overrun the battalion’s positions on the left flank Whitfield attacked single-handed a Turkish machine gun position, turned through 180 degrees and unleashed a scything arc of bullets at advancing Turkish reinforcements.

"The attack failed and Whitfield captured a second machine gun. The official history of the regiment stated, 'not one yard of ground was yielded'. The award of the Victoria Cross was officially announced in the London Gazette and when his brother John was interviewed he responded, 'That’s typical of my foolish, unselfish, mad brother.'

King George presented Sergeant Whitfield with his medal at Leeds on 31 May 1918 and an open-topped motor car parade and civic reception were organised by Oswestry Corporation for Whitfield’s homecoming visit on in June 1918.

Mr Pursehouse writes: "When the war ended, he returned to Oswestry and joined the Tanat Side Harriers based at Maesbrook, Shropshire. Regularly seen with another Victoria Cross recipient from Oswestry, Brigadier-General John 'Tally Ho VC' Vaughan Campbell on hunts and civic functions, he settled into a life of farming.

"Sergeant Whitfield proudly carried the Shropshire Yeomanry standard during the 19 July 1919 Peace March in London, his Victoria Cross resplendent on his chest. As he marched people filled his pocket and packed his belt with pound and ten shilling treasury notes, many of which blew away during the march. People also decorated him with sweet peas and roses."

The two VC holders jointly unveiled Maesbury and Oswestry war memorials.

In 1925 Harold married Mary Tomley from Middleton at Holy Trinity Church in Oswestry.

Mr Pursehouse said his bravery continued.

"In 1927 at his dairy farm on Whittington Road, Whitfield was attacked by a bullock which he beat off three times with a stave. He was knocked unconscious, the bullock stamped on his back and chest, and the end of one finger was severed; he was saved by his farm workers. Eventually he retired from farming and in 1944 funds were raised for a house in Oswestry for him, his wife and family. "

Ironically he died when he was knocked down by an army jeep while cycling home on December 19, 1956 and is buried at Oswestry Cemetery.

His medals were the subject of an astonishing turn in the story in 1977.

There had been kept by his family in a secure vault at Midland Bank (HSBC) in Oswestry. But they disappeared.

A bank worker from Holywell was convicted of stealing the Victoria Cross and attempting to sell it to a dealer who become suspicious and contacted the police.

Sergeant Whitfield’s son John presented to the Shropshire Regimental Museum his father’s medals and other items, on the understanding the medal would be on permanent display in Shrewsbury Castle.

Mr Pursehouse of The Chase Project is currently researching the stories of Midlands Victoria Crosses for a book to be published in 2019.

"If anyone has and additional information on Whitfield I can be contacted at thechaseproject@gmail.com," he said.