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Blue plaque at the Denton Remembrance Garden SJ9295 : Remembrance Garden commemorating Albert Hill.

Private 15280 Albert Hill VC
Albert Hill (24 May 1895 - 17 February 1971) was born in Hulme, Manchester, and he was one of ten children. His family first moved to Peacock Street (off Ashton Road), Denton, and later they moved to 45 High Street (bottom of Osborne Road off Hyde Road). On leaving school he began work at Alpha Mill, Manchester Road, before becoming an apprentice planker at the hat works of Joseph Wilson & Sons Ltd on Wilton Street.

In August 1914, at the outbreak of the Great War, he joined the 10th Battalion, the Royal Welch Fusiliers. This battalion formed part of C Company and in 1916 he was awarded the Victoria Cross for his action at Delville Wood during the Battle of the Somme (the Somme Offensive, 1 July 1916 to 18 November 1916). His citation reads: "For most conspicuous bravery. When the battalion was deployed under very heavy fire for an attack within Delville Wood he dashed forward, when the order to charge was given and meeting two of the enemy suddenly, bayoneted them both. He was sent later by his platoon sergeant to get in touch with the company and finding himself cut off and almost surrounded by some twenty enemy, he attacked them with bombs, killing and wounding many and scattering the remainder. He then joined a sergeant of his company and helped him find the way back to the lines. When he got back, hearing his Company Officer and a scout were lying out wounded, he went out and assisted in bringing in the wounded officer, two other men bringing in the scout. Finally, he himself captured and brought in as prisoners two of the enemy."

He was also awarded the French Croix de Guerre and the Russian Order of St George (1st Class) for his bravery. In addition, he received three campaign medals. He returned to Denton on 12 October 1916 as a hero. On the 29 October 1916 he was presented with the Victoria Cross by King George V at Buckingham Palace and on the 26 November 1916 he was accorded a second hero's welcome to Denton. On this occasion, he was accompanied by Brigadier General Kentish DSO. He was met at Denton Railway Station by a procession that escorted him through the principal streets and a company of the Royal Welch Fusiliers formed a guard of honour. On the market square there was a platform and speeches were made and the Chairman of the Council made a presentation to Albert Hill and another to Sergeant Major George Downs, who had performed a gallant act at Ypres in 1914. His Russian Order of St George was awarded by General Campbell at Manchester in 1917.

In February 1919 he returned to work at Wilson's hat works and in 1920 he married Doris Wilson at St George's Church, Hyde. In 1923 they emigrated to the USA where he found work as a building labourer. The couple had three daughters and a son. At the outbreak of World War II he attempted to enlist but he was advised to do war work instead. He made a brief return to England in 1956 for the VC Centenary Celebrations. He died at Pawtucket, Rhode Island, in 1971 and he was buried with full military honours in Highland Memorial Park, Johnston, Rhode Island. His Victoria Cross is in the museum of the Royal Welch Fusiliers in Caernarfon, Gwynedd, North Wales. Link