Town Meadow Park, Bury, has been renamed and a mural painted in honour of a local hero of the First World War

A Bury park has been renamed and a mural painted in honour of a local hero of the First World War.

Town Meadow Park, Tottington, will now be known as Private Peachment VC Town Meadow Park in memory of Private George Stanley Peachment, who was awarded a posthumous Victoria Cross for gallantry given his devotion to company commander, Captain Guy Dubs, after the officer had been seriously wounded in combat at the Battle of Loos.

Artist Tony Kelzo was commissioned by Bury Council to create the mural alongside Evan Barlow, at the request of the Borough of Bury Veterans Association. He has worked with those closest to Private Peachment’s family and story to create the mural, drawing upon Private Peachment’s life, including his actions in battle and references to local landmarks.

he mural will serve as a centre point for a formal commemoration event on 25th September to mark the anniversary of his death. There will be a service of dedication, as well as various family-themed competitions and stalls on the day.

Private Peachment is believed to be the only soldier born in what is now the modern metropolitan borough of Bury to be awarded the VC, Britain’s highest military honour.

Bury Council paid tribute to Private Peachment in 2018 by naming a new £8.5 million extra care scheme after him: Peachment Place, just off Manchester Road in Bury.

Done with the agreement and co-operation of his family and following a public consultation.

Councillor Richard Gold, cabinet member for finance, communities and the council’s armed forces lead, said: “The mural is a great tribute to Private Peachment and his family, honouring his life and achievements. We are proud to be a part of this project and happy to have been able to commission a local artist, it is great to see local artistry bring a community closer together to celebrate an important part of Bury’s history and I look forward to the commemorative event in September.”

The son of a barber, he was born on 5 May 1897 and went on to study engineering at Bury Technical School and became an apprentice steam engine fitter. His family moved to Tottington where his mother was a teacher at a local school.

Private Peachment was awarded the Victoria Cross for gallantry given his devotion to company commander, Captain Guy Dubs, after the officer had been seriously wounded in combat at the Battle of Loos.

His Victoria Cross citation said:

For most conspicuous bravery near Hulluch on 25th September, 1915. During very heavy fighting, when our front line was compelled to retire in order to reorganise, Private Peachment, seeing his Company Commander, Captain Dubs, lying wounded, crawled to assist him. The enemy’s fire was intense, but, though there was a shell-hole quite close, in which a few men had taken cover, Private 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. He was one of the youngest men in his battalion and gave this splendid example of courage and self-sacrifice.

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