Albert Halton

Rushed 300 Yards Under Fire to Capture a Machine Gun

Albert Halton was born near Carnforth, Lancashire, on 1 May 1893. Educated in Carnforth, he worked as a labourer before enlisting in the King's Own Royal Lancaster Regiment on 15 August 1915. He joined the 1/5th Battalion in France and was wounded on the Somme in October 1916. After treatment in Britain, he returned to France with the 1st Battalion in March 1917.

On 12 October 1917, during the First Battle of Passchendaele, the battalion attacked north of Poelcapelle, Belgium. Although its objective had been reached, a German machine gun continued to cause losses. Halton rushed about 300 yards ahead under heavy rifle and shell fire and captured the weapon and its crew. He then went out again and returned with about twelve prisoners. His Victoria Cross recognized both the attack and his willingness to continue exposing himself after the immediate danger had been removed.

Victoria Cross citation

“For most conspicuous bravery in attack. After the objective had been reached Pte. Halton rushed forward about three hundred yards under very heavy rifle and shell fire, and captured a machine gun and its crew, which was causing many losses to our men. He then went out again and brought in about twelve prisoners, showing the greatest disregard of his own safety and setting a very fine example to those around him.”

King George V presented Halton with the Victoria Cross at Buckingham Palace on 2 January 1918. He married Emily Tatman later that year and left the Army in May 1919. He worked at Carnforth Ironworks and later as a gatekeeper at the Lansil Works in Lancaster, retiring in 1961. During World War II he served in the Lancaster Home Guard.

Halton died in Lancaster on 24 July 1971. His funeral at Lancaster and Morecambe Crematorium included full military honors. His family donated his Victoria Cross and other medals to the King's Own Royal Regiment Museum in 1993, followed by his family archive in 2018.