It was quite a remarkable coincidence when a World War One hero from Radcliffe was honoured by his peers - on the exact day that hostilities ceased.

On November 11, 1918, a meeting of the Urban District of Radcliffe unanimously passed a resolution to convey its "hearty congratulations" to Herbert Barlow after he had been awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal (DCM). A year earlier, he had also been presented with the highly coveted Military Cross (MC).

A copy of the local authority's citation is in the possession of Mr Barlow's only surviving child, Mrs Joyce Sellers. Her father was born in Lever Street, Radcliffe, but lived on Ainsworth Road when he joined The King's Shropshire Light Infantry.

Mrs Sellers, who lives in Greenmount, said: "Apparently, because this infantry had suffered such a lot of losses, they needed more numbers and that's why my father didn't go into the Lancashire Fusiliers."

Company Sergeant Major Barlow was awarded the MC in September 1917 following an attack on a trench in Belgium. The honour was in tribute to his "conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty."

The citation read: "He led an attack under heavy enfilade fire to capture a strongly-held enemy trench. Though bombed in the open, he led his party into the trench, and by his prompt and gallant action he was the means of reducing a stubbornly defended position which had checked the advance of a large portion of the line.

" He personally led the assaulting party throughout, and when the objective was won, he did valuable work in organising men of other units for the consolidation. He set a magnificent example of courage and resource to his men."

Three months later, Company Sergeant Major Barlow was awarded the DCM for another heroic exploit in Belgium. That citation reads: "Whilst the enemy were advancing he, seeing three teams of hostile machine gunners attempting to come into action, seized a machine gun, with which he killed many of the enemy, thus enabling his company to capture the guns. The latter he immediately assisted in bringing into action against the enemy. Though wounded, he remained at his post, thus affording a fine example of endurance and courageous determination."

It was this second honour which earned him the civic congratulatory citation from Radcliffe councillors.

After World War One, twice-married Mr Barlow worked as a foreman printer with local firm Bibby and Baron and was a senior figure in the Home Guard during the World War Two.

"He never spoke to us about the war, like many other soldiers," added Mrs Sellers. "He was a heavy smoker. He was probably given themin trenches and got addicted. I was always going to the corner shop for 20 Gold Flake or Senior Service."

Mrs Sellers has in her possession a letter written by her father in 1919 asking for an increase to his war pension. During the conflict, he had been shot in the leg.

"His pension at that time was fifteen shillings and he wanted it increased by sixpence a day, which it was," she said.

Mr Barlow died of lung cancer at the age of 49 in 1945 and is buried in Radcliffe cemetery.

Paying tribute, Mrs Sellers concluded: "He was such a brave man and was very young when he fought in World War One."

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