ONE of the town’s heroic First World War Victoria Cross heroes was commemorated on the 100th anniversary of the day he earned the military honour.

A paving stone in honour of Frederick William Hall, one of the area’s four Victoria Cross winners, was laid at the war memorial in St Helens.

Mayor councillor Geoff Pearl was present for the unveiling last Friday at Victoria Square.

The stones of the other three VC winners will also be revealed on the centenary dates of their award being received.

Frederick, a company sergeant with the Manitoba Regiment of the Canadian Infantry, was honoured on April 24, 1915 for his efforts to reach a wounded soldier in the face of heavy enemy fire.

During a German attack, under heavy gunfire, Frederick crawled out of his trench towards a wounded soldier.

The first rescue effort had failed, and a non-commissioned officer and private soldier, attempting to give assistance, were both wounded. However, on making a second attempt, Frederick slid himself underneath the man to lift him up but was killed when he raised his head to assess his position.

His body was never found but Frederick’s name is listed on the Menin Gate Memorial, which bears the names of those who fell at Ypres Salient but were denied burial.

Frederick was born in Kilkenny, Ireland in 1895, but had lived on Ormskirk Street with his father, Frederick, mother, Mary and siblings before they emigrated to Canada in 1910.

The commemoration stone for John Molyneux, of the Royal Fusiliers will be laid on October 9, 2017 and for John Thomas Davies from St Helens of the South Lancashire Regiment on 24 March 2018 in Victoria Square.

The stone for Norman Harvey, of the Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers and The Royal Engineers, will be laid by the War Memorial, in Newton-le-Willows, on October 25, 2018.