FUTURE PROJECTS
Vulcan Locomotive Tribute
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As you may be aware, we’ve become involved in a project to acquire and restore one of the final locomotives to be produced at the Vulcan Works, and to return it as a permanent tribute to the work done and the historical industrial legacy of the site.
Walter Urwin was an engineer at the Vulcan Works from Wargrave. Sadly, he passed away just after desigining the GEC Stephenson Locomotive and so the first of the production line was named after him. These were the last ever locomotives built at the Vulcan. The locos worked at Redcar Steel Mill until it closed and are now in private ownership. We hunted them down and found 251 "Walter Urwin" ready to go to the scrap yard! We now need to raise £25,000 for the project to save it from the scrap yard, fully refurbish it, and return it to put on display at the entrance to the former Vulcan Works site as a tribute to the national significance of the works that were on the site from 1830-2002.
We have amassed considerable public support for this project. This support is invaluable, but to make this project a reality we also need the support of businesses and local organisations for sponsorship of this project. Once completed, the train will be complemented with an interpretation board and a webpage through our Newton-le-Willows Heritage Trail website detailing the history of the locomotive and the site.
STATUE TO COMMEMORATE VC WINNER NORMAN HARVEY
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A STATUE to mark the centenary of a Newton-le-Willows resident receiving top military honour the Victoria Cross will soon sit in Mesnes Park.
Norman Harvey was 19 when he won his VC medal on October 25, 1918
The VC is the highest award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces.
The statue, capturing the moment just after the action that won him the honour, would be sited in the centre of Mesnes park's remembrance meadow.
Norman's award recognised his actions in Ingoyhem, Belgium. When his battalion was held up and suffering severe casualties from machine-gun fire, he ran forward and engaged the enemy single-handed, killing two, wounding one and capturing 12 men and two guns.
He later used a hidden machine-gun to put the enemy to flight. When night fell, he went out alone and gathered important information.
Throughout these actions, Norman was limping as he had a sprained ankle.
Born in Newton-le-Willows on April 6, 1899, Norman enlisted in the 4th Battalion South Lancashire Regiment in November 1914, when he was only 15. He was transferred to the 1st Battalion, Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers in April 1918. After the War, Norman lived at Old Station in Parkside Road.
He re-enlisted for World War II and was killed in action in 1942. He is buried in Haifa, Israel.
So far, we've had only positive feedback from relatives of Norman Harvey, the public, local schools, cadet groups, our Councillors and other community organisations including the Royal British Legion. It's the only project locally that we are aware of to commemorate this historic legacy.
We look forward to making a success of this project and displaying a new and fitting tribute to those who paid the ultimate sacrifice to defend our values.
A STATUE to mark the centenary of a Newton-le-Willows resident receiving top military honour the Victoria Cross will soon sit in Mesnes Park.
Norman Harvey was 19 when he won his VC medal on October 25, 1918
The VC is the highest award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces.
The statue, capturing the moment just after the action that won him the honour, would be sited in the centre of Mesnes park's remembrance meadow.
Norman's award recognised his actions in Ingoyhem, Belgium. When his battalion was held up and suffering severe casualties from machine-gun fire, he ran forward and engaged the enemy single-handed, killing two, wounding one and capturing 12 men and two guns.
He later used a hidden machine-gun to put the enemy to flight. When night fell, he went out alone and gathered important information.
Throughout these actions, Norman was limping as he had a sprained ankle.
Born in Newton-le-Willows on April 6, 1899, Norman enlisted in the 4th Battalion South Lancashire Regiment in November 1914, when he was only 15. He was transferred to the 1st Battalion, Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers in April 1918. After the War, Norman lived at Old Station in Parkside Road.
He re-enlisted for World War II and was killed in action in 1942. He is buried in Haifa, Israel.
So far, we've had only positive feedback from relatives of Norman Harvey, the public, local schools, cadet groups, our Councillors and other community organisations including the Royal British Legion. It's the only project locally that we are aware of to commemorate this historic legacy.
We look forward to making a success of this project and displaying a new and fitting tribute to those who paid the ultimate sacrifice to defend our values.
If you would like to donate to our heritage projects, you can do so HERE
Newton and Earlestown Community Group est 2012