Bury to pay tribute to Private Peachment VC

On 25^th September, Bury and Tottington will come together to remember Private George Peachment VC, who was awarded the highest military honour, the Victoria Cross during the Battle of Loos during WW1.

The day will take place in Private Peachment VC Town Meadow Park, which was recently renamed in memory of Private Peachment, after a public consultation.

Beginning at 12 pm, with a service of dedication led by Padre Hugh Bearn at 2 pm. The day's events will continue till 4 pm, with different stalls, activities and local businesses taking part including:

• Cased replica of the Victoria Cross
• Live band
• Children's craft centre
• Local food and drinks vendors
• Live singer, a medley of wartime tunes
• Children’s fancy dress competition (winner announced at 3 pm)
• Bury Cadets
• Many more fun and interesting activities

The centrepiece of the day’s events will be the newly completed Private Peachment Mural, completed earlier this year, the mural shows the life of Private Peachment and pays homage to the local area and life in Bury. 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.

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 very much look forward to the commemorative event on the 25th.”

This event is open to all the family, there’s no need to book simply head down on the day and enjoy the stalls and activities on offer. Please also remember to bring an umbrella and layers if the weather changes throughout the day.

About Private Peachment:

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.