A MEMORIAL is set to be unveiled in tribute to an heroic Radcliffe soldier who was awarded the Victoria Cross during World War One.

Private James Hutchinson, of the 2nd/5th Lancashire Fusiliers, was honoured 100 years ago this month for his gallant acts in a battle near Ficheux, south of the town of Arras in France.

The soldier, who was born in Bank Top in 1895, will now be commemorated with a new stone at the Radcliffe war memorial, which will be unveiled at a ceremony next week.

During the battle on June 28, 1916, Pte Hutchinson took charge of a team of nine men when his commanding officer was killed.

He shot or bayoneted eight German men after jumping into their trench, and still managed to subdue the enemy after he ran out of ammunition.

Once they had successfully reached behind enemy lines, he undertook an equally dangerous task by covering the raiders' retreat until the last of them was clear.

No wounded in his party were left behind, after he bandaged the injured before escorting them back to their lines, and no prisoners were captured.

Tragically, however, his brother Frank was one of 16 casualties.

A report of his actions published in the London Gazette in September 1916 said: "During an attack on the enemy's position this soldier was the leading man, and, entering their trench, shot two sentries and cleared two of the traverses.

"After our objective had been gained and retirement ordered, Private Hutchinson, on his own initiative, undertook the dangerous task of covering the retirement, as he did this with such gallantry and determination that the wounded were removed to safety.

"During all this time this gallant soldier was exposed to fierce fire from machine-guns and rifles at close quarters."

The new memorial stone will be unveiled on at 11am on Sunday, June 19, following a parade of drummers, standards, and cadets, starting from Whittaker Street. The parade starts at 10.45am and the public and dignitaries are invited for refreshments at the United Reformed Church Hall afterwards.

Four members of Pte Hutchinson's family are hoping to attend the event.

The stone will be the first of its kind in Radcliffe, after the scheme was launched by the Government last year to mark acts of heroism in the Great War.

After receiving his Victoria Cross from the King in December 1916, the former Radcliffe Hall School pupil returned home to a hero's welcome.

He did not return to active service due to the loss of his right eye, and was eventually discharged from the Army in 1919 with the rank of lance corporal.

When the war finished, the keen footballer moved to Torquay, where he and his wife ran a boarding house.

He joined the army again to fight in World War Two and, at a ceremony marking the 50th anniversary of the Battle of the Somme in 1966, said that he often missed out on job opportunities because they were not considered 'good enough' for a Victoria Cross recipient.

He died in January 1972, having suffered from chronic bronchitis. The address at his funeral was given by the Rev Harold Mason Ainscow, who was one of the soldiers who took part in the raid.

Pte Hutchinson is also commemorated with a plaque and photograph at his former school and is on the roll of honour at Radcliffe and Bury parish churches.

Lt Col Mike Glover, Regimental Secretary for the Lancashire Fusiliers, said: "It's a great opportunity for members of the public to really connect with the Great War.

"A lot of the anniversaries are celebrated at a national level and miss out the person on the street. Pte Hutchinson is one of those local people who went out and did amazing things during the war and this is a great opportunity to recognise that."