Oldham Council is appealing for the family of a Victoria Cross recipient from the First World War to come forward as it prepares to honour his outstanding acts of bravery.

Sergeant Thomas Steele was honoured for his role in attempting to lift the Turkish siege at Ku-al-Amara in the Middle East in 1917.

At a critical moment, Sgt Steele used a machine gun to beat off an enemy attack and risked his life to rally a party of Indian soldiers who had lost all their officers.He was also severely injured and suffered 12 wounds in further conflict.

In honour of his outstanding bravery, and to commemorate 100 years since the events, Oldham Council is holding a ceremony at 11am, February 22, at St Annes Church, Lydgate.At the ceremony a commemorative paving stone will be unveiled in honour of Sergeant Steele by Councillor Derek Heffernan, the Mayor of Oldham.

The council wants to get in touch with Sgt Steele’s family so they can take part in the ceremony and share their stories.

Councillor Barbara Brownridge, Cabinet Member for Neighbourhoods and Cooperatives, said: “Sergeant Thomas Steele was born in Oldham and we are proud to remember him.

“We have an obligation to preserve his memory and bravery for generations to come – something we hope the paving stone will do.
We would like to collect stories and images of Thomas Steele so if you have any, or you are a relative, or friend, of the Steele family, please get in touch.”
The commemoration is part of the on-going national campaign to lay lasting reminders in the birth places of Members of Sgt Steele’s family, dignitaries and representatives of local community groups and schools will be in attendance.

If you’re relative – or just a friend – of Thomas Steele please come forward and contact mayors.office@oldham.gov.uk or call 0161 770 4012.

Only 1,356 of the Victoria Cross medals — the highest honour bestowed on members of the UK armed forces — have ever been awarded.
Two other borough residents received the Victoria Cross for their heroic deeds in World War One.

Sergeant Hogan was in battlefield in Festubert, France on October 29, 1914, when his trench had been taken by the Germans. After attempts at recapturing it failed Sgt Hogan and fellow soldiers took actions into their own hands and re-claimed it.

Private Walter Mills was caught in a gas attack on the Western Front on December 10, 1917. He stayed at his post alone and threw bombs until the enemy retreated. He died of gas poisoning as he was carried away.

A service will take place on Monday 11 December to honour Oldham’s third, and final, Victoria Cross recipient, Private Walter Mills.
Thomas Steele was born at Claytons, Springhead to Harold and Elizabeth Steele on 6 February 1891.
At age 12, Thomas began work part-time in the cotton industry, but left at age 14 to begin full time employment in the mills.

After being made redundant, Thomas, aged 20, enlisted for the Seaforth Highlanders, a kilted Scots regiment created in 1881.

At age 21 he was placed on a draft for the 1st Battalion Seaforths stationed in India – by this time he was already engaged to his future wife, Bertha.

Thomas spent the later stages of the First World War as a full sergeant with his battalion in Palestine.In 1919 he was demobilised and returned home to Springhead, where he was presented with an inscribed gold watch for his achievements.

After considerable time recuperating, Thomas turned his attention to sport. He played in the three quarters for rugby league side Healey St. Adults, where he helped the team win the Oldham Standard Challenge Cup, the Salford Hospital Cup and the Manchester League.

He later turned part-time professional with Broughton Rangers, one of Rugby Leagues’ founding members.

He also became heavily involved with the local Scout Movement and in 1924 he was a scout leader with the Lees Road Group.
After the war Thomas struggled to settle in to civilian life and was often unemployed. He eventually found a position as a permanent member of staff of the 4th Leicesters.

From 1947 onwards he worked for the Central Motor Company in Leicester as a stores foreman.Sadly in 1978, 16 years after the death of his wife Bertha, he returned to Springhead to be cared for due to ill health.

He passed away in 1978, aged 87, and was cremated in Hollinwood Crematorium. His ashes were buried in the family grave at St Anne’s Churchyard, Lydgate.

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