Trafford's forgotten hero

He was a Sale man who was feted by the town after winning the country's highest military honour ... but then disappeared from almost all local records.

Thousands of Sale residents turned out to pay tribute to Lance Corporal George Onions, after he had received the Victoria Cross (VC) from King George V.

Thirty-five-year-old George gained the award for an incredible act of bravery during the First World War, at Achiet-le-Petit in France on August 22, 1918.

Aided by just one other soldier, he captured 200 German soldiers who had launched a counter attack.

That stupendous feat should have earned George a permanent place on the town's roll of honour, as one of only four Trafford men to receive the VC.

But, inexplicably, almost all records of his connection to the town disappeared. His incredible story has only now come to light because of a chance discovery by Sale resident and councillor Roland Griffin.

Roland said: "It is just amazing that he was totally forgotten.

He added: "What he did was amazing, truly wonderful."

* THE three other VC holders from Trafford are: Capt Edward Bradbury, from Altrincham, who won the medal at Nery, France on September 1, 1914.

Edward Charlton, of Batsford Road, Stretford, who won it at Wistedt, Germany on April 21, 1945.

William Speakman, from Altrincham, who gained it in the Korean War on November 4, 1951.

TOWN'S CELEBRATIONS

Sale celebrated the achievements of Word War One hero George Onions in style.

Everyone was justifiably proud of a man who had captured 200 enemy soldiers.

But the town soon forgot his achievements.

And they have only now been revealed because of a chance finding by Councillor Roland Griffin, who represents Sale's Priory ward.

The key to Roland discovering about George's exploits came when he was lent an old photograph about 10 years ago by family friend Bill Stockton.

This showed a ceremony on the steps at Sale Town Hall where Bill's father, leading council official Albert Stockton, alongside a soldier. Roland, who was researching his family history at the time, recognised his own great grandparents, Walter and Edith Griffin, on the photo - but no-one knew who the soldier was.

Then, last year, Roland was looking through old copies of the Sale Guardian for research purposes, when he saw an article about a ceremony in Sale to honour VC hero George Onions - and he realised he was the unidentified soldier on the photograph.

Roland said: "I had never heard of him and it was just total chance I came across this and found out about it.

"I have spoken to local history societies but no-one knew of him.

"I don't know why he has been forgotten. It is just one of those quirks."

Bill, aged 92, said: "Something should be done in Sale in recognition of what he did."

Sale resident George enlisted for the Army in the town for the 3rd Hussars Reserve Regiment and 3rd King's Own Hussars, which were cavalry regiments. He served with them during the Easter Rebellion in Dublin in 1916.

By the time he carried out his act of heroism he had been attached to the 1st Battalion of the Devonshire Regiment as an infantryman, in Belgium and France.

CITATION

A citation in the London Gazette of December 14. 1918, recounted the incredible actions that earned his VC, after "having been sent with one man to get in touch with the battalion on the right flank, he observed the enemy advancing in large numbers to counter attack the positions gained on the previous day.

"Realising his opportunity, he boldly placed himself with his comrade on the flank of the advancing enemy and opened rapid fire when the target was most favourable. When the enemy were about 100 yards from him, the line wavered and some hands were seen to be thrown up. Lance Corporal Onions then rushed forward and, with the assistance of his comrade, took about 200 of the enemy prisoners and marched them back to his company commander."

He was wounded and gassed later that day and sent home to a Liverpool hospital to recuperate.

His fellow Sale residents honoured him at a ceremony on February 22, 1919. A newspaper report at the time said a crowd of several thousand people gathered at the town hall. George was brought to the ceremony from his house on Cranford Avenue in a car driven by Cadet Stockton - believed to be a cousin of Bill's - and the Ashton on Mersey Prize Band played See the Conquering Hero Comes'. Another car brought his wife, Florence.

At the ceremony, George was presented with a gold watch, a cheque for £185 - a sizeable sum at the time - and a framed address from the Sale District Council. It said: "The council place on record the expression of their admiration of his gallantry and the public gratitude for the distinction he has conferred upon the township by his meritorious conduct."

His wife was given a brooch displaying the crest of her husband's regiment in gold. His father, Zacary, and his brother, Trooper A Onions, were at the ceremony.

BIRTHPLACE

George was born in Bilston, Staffordshire, the son of Zacary and Amy Onions, on March 2, 1883. The 1891 census reveals he was living in Stalybridge.

He was educated at West Monmouthshire Grammar School, Pontypool, and became an apprentice steelmaker, subsequently having a business as an iron and steel merchant and manufacturers' agent.

By the time of the 1901 census, at the age of 18, he was working in Abersychan, Monmouthshire, as an analytical chemist's assistant.

He emigrated to Australia in 1904 and on August 31, 1907, married Florence in Brisbane. Their son, George Zac, was born on November 2, 1909.

They returned to England and on September 5, 1915 George joined the Army and moved to Cranford Avenue, Sale.

He was later promoted to the rank of major and saw service in the auxiliary division of the Royal Irish Constabulary.

He died on April 2, 1944, at the age of 61, and was buried in Quinton Cemetery, Birmingham. His VC is on show in the Military Museum of Devon and Dorset in Dorchester.