Street to be renamed in honour of Crimean War VC recipient.

A street in Heywood is set to be renamed in commemoration of Private Anthony Palmer, a Crimean war hero and Victoria Cross recipient, who is buried in Heywood Cemetery.

A heritage sign will be unveiled on Wood Street, outside Heywood Library, at 1.30pm on Sunday August 24, to mark the official renaming of the street to ‘Private Anthony Palmer VC Parade’.

Other activities on the day have been jointly organised by Rochdale Borough Council and the Lancashire Veterans Association and include the ‘Private Anthony Palmer VC’ parade, which all veterans are invited to take part in. It will leave The Bay Horse pub on Torrington Street at 1pm.

Councillor Alan McCarthy, Lead Member for the Armed Forces, said: “Private Palmer’s story is one of gallantry and selflessness, he is buried in Heywood and, as such, we have an obligation to preserve his memory and to recognise his incredible heroism.”

Private Palmer was born on the 10 March 1819 in Brereton Green, Cheshire. He joined the British Army and served with the 3^rd Battalion, Grenadier Guards during the Crimean War (1854-1856).

He is buried at Heywood Cemetery, in a family plot with father James and mother Mary Rachel. The citation on his gravestone reads ‘An upright, valorous, god-fearing hero much beloved’.

Following the War, he was presented with the Victoria Cross, the highest military honour, by Queen Victoria at Hyde Park in London in June, 1857.

A digest of his VC citation reads:

“During the Battle of Inkerman, Crimea, on 5th November 1854, Brevet Major Sir Charles Russell offered to dislodge a body of Russian soldiers from the Sandbag battery if anyone would volunteer to go with him. Private Anthony Palmer volunteered. The attack succeeded. Private Palmer was present when the charge was made in defence of the Colours. Sir Charles Russell also witnessed Private Palmer make a single charge against the enemy. He undoubtedly saved Sir Charles' life when he shot an assailant who was about to bayonet him.”

Private Palmer is also believed to be one of only 13 recipients of the Bentinck Medal for Gallantry. First presented by Major-General Sir Henry Bentinck, KCB in 1855, the medal recognised Guardsmen who had performed outstanding service, at a time when insufficient official awards for gallantry were available.

After leaving the army in 1863 he rose to become the Head Constable of The Millwall Dock Company. He died on 12 December 1892 at the age of 73, in Crumpsall Hospital, Manchester.

The unveiling of ‘Private Anthony Palmer VC Parade’ follows that of ‘LCpl Joel Halliwell VC Way’ and ‘L Cpl Stephen Shaw MC Way’, in recognising servicemen associated with the borough, who have received awards for their gallantry.

The street renaming is one of a host of events across the borough this year commemorating the sacrifice of British service personnel. To find out more visit www.rochdale.gov.uk/armedforces

Rochdale was one of the first councils in the country to sign the Armed Forces Community Covenant, aimed at encouraging local communities to support services that promote and encourage activities that help integrate Armed Forces personnel back into civilian life.