Sutton's Twin V.C. Heroes of the Great War

10 November 2008 Categories: Sutton's History

As the 90th anniversary of the ending of the Great War (a.k.a. First World War) approaches, it's an ideal time to reflect on the heroic deeds of the two Sutton 'Jacks' in that bloody conflict. Both of these sons of Sutton were awarded the Victoria Cross for their remarkable acts of bravery whilst doing their bit for their country in France and Belgium. Curiously they both came from the Sutton Heath district of West Sutton.

John Molyneux was born on the 22nd November, 1890 at 148 Elbers (?) Lane to mother Hannah and a coal miner father, who was also called John. By 1901 they were recorded as having moved down the road to 107 Elephant Lane, Thatto Heath. By this time John Jnr's 17-year-old brother, Thomas and 15-year-old sister, Elizabeth, were also working with their Dad at Lea Green Colliery in Lowfield Lane. John Jnr. (or 'Jack') would probably follow in his siblings' footsteps down the pit.

Jack Molyneux joined the 2nd Battalion of The Royal Fusiliers (St.Helens) and rose to the rank of sergeant. On 9th October, 1917, whilst in the Belgian province of West Flanders near Langemarck, an allied attack was being held up by German machine-gun fire which was causing many casualties.

How the London Gazette reported Jack Molyneux's heroics
Click the image for full reports on both Jack Molyneux and Jack Davies

So Sergeant Molyneux led a bombing party to clear a trench in front of a house, leading to the capture of a machine-gun. Jack then became involved in hand-to-hand fighting until reinforcements arrived and the enemy then surrendered, leading to more than twenty prisoners being taken. Jack Molyneux V.C. died on 25th March, 1972 and his Victoria Cross is displayed at the Royal Fusiliers Museum.

John Thomas Davies was born on 29th September, 1895 at 5, Sutton Heath Road, the son of a labourer father who was also called John and mother Mary. He joined the 11th Battalion of the South Lancashire Regiment (The Prince of Wales's Volunteers) and on 24 March, 1918 near Eppeville, France his company received orders to withdraw. However, Corporal Davies knew the only means of withdrawal was through a barbed wire lined stream and he had to hold up the enemy for as long as possible so his company could safely depart.

Memorial in St.Helens Cemetery to Cpl. Jack Davies, winner of the Victoria Cross

So Jack Davies dangerously mounted the parapet to get a more effective field of fire, keeping his Lewis gun firing until the last moment and causing many enemy casualties. His actions enabled many of his company to cross the river and he himself was thought to have been killed. His award of the Victoria Cross was posthumous, although in actual fact he'd been taken prisoner. During World War II, Jack Davies became a Captain in the Home Guard and died on 28 October, 1955. His Victoria Cross is displayed at the Imperial War Museum in London.

Similar deeds to what the two 'Sutton Jacks' performed have been enacted many times in war films and we've witnessed them on numerous occasions on our television screens. Perhaps as a consequence we've become somewhat desentisised to the dangers and horror of it all. But these Sutton sons weren't acting from a script and they demonstrated incredible courage with no thought for their own safety and such heroism should never be forgotten. SRW

Click Here to read The London Gazette's official accounts of their awards.