A COMMEMORATIVE statue honouring Newton-le-Willows’ Victoria Cross hero Norman Harvey has been unveiled today.

The two-metre high structure was officially revealed at Mesnes Park’s remembrance garden this afternoon.

The ceremony followed a fitting service in honour of Norman at nearby St Peter’s Church.

Guests in attendance included around 80 members of Norman’s family including surviving daughter Geraldine, St Helens North MP Conor McGinn and local councillors.

The statue was made following a £100,000 fundraising effort launched by the Newton and Earlestown Community Group in 2016 to create the memorial to VC recipient Private Norman Harvey at Newton-le-Willows’ Mesnes Park.

St Helens Star:

Norman was 19 when he won his VC medal on October 25, 1918 for his actions in Ingoyhem, Belgium.

Despite his age, when Norman’s battalion was held up and suffering severe casualties from machine-gun fire, he ran forward and engaged the enemy single-handed, killing two, wounding one and capturing 12 men and two guns.

He later used a hidden machine-gun to put the enemy to flight. When night fell, he went out alone and gathered important information. Throughout these actions, Norman was limping as he had a sprained ankle.

A parade took place from the church to the park before today’s unveiling.