Stockport Council is appealing for the families of two Stockport war heroes, Victoria Cross (VC) recipients from World War I to come forward, as it prepares to honour them during a series of events to commemorate 100 years since the end of the war.
The two war heroes are Wilfred Wood, from Hazel Grove, and James Kirk, from Cheadle Hulme.
It’s understood that Mr Wood was born on 2nd February 1897 and was a private from the 10th Battalion, The Northumberland Fusiliers.
November 11, 2018 will mark 100 years since the end of World War I and Stockport Council will be acknowledging this with a series of significant events.
Mr Wood was awarded a VC on 28th October 1918 for his bravery and initiative at the Battle of Vittorio Veneto in Italy. His actions caused hundreds of enemy soldiers to surrender. Mr Wood died on 3rd January 1982.
Mr Kirk was born on 27th January 1897 and was a second lieutenant from the 10th Battalion, the Manchester Regiment.
Mr Kirk was awarded a VC for his bravery and devotion to duty in the north of Ors in France. His actions prevented many casualties and enabled men from his party to cross a bridge before it was eventually destroyed. Mr Kirk died on 4th November 1918.
As part of the events, commemorative paving stones will be laid on Hazel Grove and Cheadle Hulme war memorials respectively on Sunday 28th October 2018 and Sunday 4th November 2018, which will be 100 years to the day that each man was awarded their VCs.
The Council wants to find out more about these two brave men and ask their families if they’d like to be involved in the commemorative events.
There are many legacies and memorials of the fallen of WWI in Stockport. The most known is the Stockport War Memorial Art Gallery, which was built by public donations to preserve the names of the fallen and to encourage the love of the beautiful. For this reason, this building will play a significant role in the commemorations.
There will be a Stockport Day of Remembrance on Sunday 11th November 2018, which will culminate with a lantern procession and the lighting of a beacon on the Art Gallery steps, a community art installation and two new exhibitions which will tell the story of the Art Gallery and of the other memorials in Stockport.
If you’re relative – or just a friend – of Mr Wood or Mr Kirk please come forward and contact alison.farthing@stockport.gov.uk or call 0161 474 4469.