William of Worcester's Chronicle of England

William of Worcester, born around 1415, and died around 1482 was secretary to John Fastolf, the renowned soldier of the Hundred Years War, during which time he collected documents, letters, and wrote a record of events. Following their return to England in 1440 William was witness to major events. Twice in his chronicle he uses the first person: 1. when writing about the murder of Thomas, 7th Baron Scales, in 1460, he writes '… and I saw him lying naked in the cemetery near the porch of the church of St. Mary Overie in Southwark …' and 2. describing King Edward IV's entry into London in 1461 he writes '… proclaimed that all the people themselves were to recognize and acknowledge Edward as king. I was present and heard this, and immediately went down with them into the city'. William’s Chronicle is rich in detail. It is the source of much information about the Wars of the Roses, including the term 'Diabolical Marriage' to describe the marriage of Queen Elizabeth Woodville’s brother John’s marriage to Katherine, Dowager Duchess of Norfolk, he aged twenty, she sixty-five or more, and the story about a paper crown being placed in mockery on the severed head of Richard, 3rd Duke of York.

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Walter Mills 1894-1917

On 21st July 1894 Walter Mills was born.

On 11th December 1917 Walter Mills [aged 23] died of gas poisoning. He was buried at Gorre British & Indian Cemetery, Nr Bethune, Pas-De-Calais, France.

The London Gazette 30523. 13th February 1918. Award of the Victoria Cross.

No. 3T5499 Pte. Walter Mills, late Manch. B. (Oldham).

For most conspicuous bravery and self sacrifice. When, after an intense gas attack, a strong enemy patrol endeavoured to rush our posts, the garrisons of which had been over come, and though badly gassed himself, he met the attack single-handed and continued to throw bombs until the arrival of rein forcements, and remained at his post until the enemy's attacks Had been finally driven off. While being carried away he died from gas poisoning. It was solely due to his exertions, when his only chance of personal safety lay in remaining motionless, that the enemy was defeated and the line retained intact

In 2003. a Blue Plaque was unveiled to three 'valiant men of the Borough of Oldham' who received the Victoria Cross: John Hogan, Walter Mills and Thomas Steele.

Oldham Church War Memorial including plaques to three recipients of the Victoria Cross: John Hogan, Walter Mills and Thomas Steele.