Oldham Council is set to commemorate the first man from the borough to be awarded a Victoria Cross in World War One – exactly 100 years since his outstanding act of bravery.
On October 29 a commemorative paving stone will be unveiled in honour of Sergeant John Hogan by Councillor Fida Hussain, the Mayor of Oldham.
This is part of a national campaign to lay lasting reminders in the birth places of Victoria Cross recipients from the First World War.
Members of the public are invited to the unveiling and a special service, which will take place at 11am at Royton War Memorial, Royton Park, Bleasdale Street, Royton, OL2 6RL.
Members of Sgt Hogan’s family, dignitaries and representatives of local community groups and schools will be in attendance.
Following the service refreshments will be served at Royton Youth Centre, Chapel Street, Royton
Councillor Cath Ball, Assistant Cabinet Member for World War One Centenary, said: “Sergeant Hogan was born and bred in Oldham so it is only right his story, which is one of gallantry and selflessness, is remembered for generations to come.
“We have an obligation to preserve his memory and to recognise his incredible heroism, especially with it being 100 years since the start of World War One.”
Sgt Hogan was born on April 8, 1884, in Royton. His family emigrated to America when he was 11 years old but John stayed in Oldham with his maternal grandmother.
On December 5, 1902 he joined the Manchester Regiment and served in South Africa and India, before joining the Army Reserve in 1912. Sgt Hogan received the VC for bravery on the battlefield in Festubert, France on October 29, 1914.
The trench his regiment was in had been taken by the Germans. After attempts to recapture it failed Sgt Hogan and fellow soldiers took actions into their own hands. Finally after a hard struggle, which included hand-to-hand combat, the trench was retaken.
In a later account Sgt Hogan said: “I’ve done nothing to deserve the Victoria Cross. Perhaps I am favoured in that the acts have been recognised.
“Lieutenant Leach and I, at the head of ten men, crawled a distance of a hundred yards amidst an inferno of bullets. Getting into the trenches, we had a hand to hand fight with the occupants, of whom we killed eight, wounded two and made 16 prisoners.
“Looking back on the incident in cold blood I have since often marvelled how it all happened and how it was that neither Lieutenant Leach or myself was injured.”
Bizarrely, before the news of his heroism got back to Oldham, it was wrongly announced in some newspapers that Sgt Hogan had been killed.
He was presented with the Victoria Cross, the highest military honour, by King George V at Buckingham Palace in 1915.
On January 2 1915, while he was on leave, Sgt Hogan married Margaret Taylor and they had a son, also called John. Margaret died in 1926.
Sgt Hogan died on October 6 1943, aged 59. He is buried in Chadderton Cemetery.
His VC was believed to have been stolen and once came up for auction in London. The cross and medals were bought by Oldham businessman, Norman Stoller, who then presented them to Oldham Council in October 1983. They now take pride of place in the military collection housed in the Civic Centre.
Meanwhile, two other borough residents received the Victoria Cross for their heroic deeds in World War One.
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.
Thomas Steele was born in Springhead before enlisting with the 1st Battalion Seaforth Highlanders at the age of 20. He was awarded the VC in Mesopotamia (now Iraq) in January, 1917, when he helped a comrade carry a machine gun into position under heavy fire.
To get involved in Oldham’s commemorations – Oldham Remembers – to mark 100 years since the start of World War One; read stories about local people and their experience in the war; research stories or to upload your own visit www.oldhamremembers.org.uk
For more information email oldhamremembers@oldham.gov.uk or call 0161 770 3297.
