A CENTURY ago special presentations were made to two Furness winners of gallantry medals.

Barrow Town Hall was the setting for Military Cross winner Company Sergeant Major R. A. Williams and the Military Medal was presented at Vickerstown School, Walney, to former pupil William McDowell.

Williams was a Barrow power worker for the borough council electricity department and his medal presentation was reported in the Barrow News of March 3 in 1917.

It was noted that the council’s power workers had provided 16 men for the armed forces – one was a prisoner of war and three had been wounded.

CSM Williams was presented with a case of cutlery and a tantalus for storing spirit bottles.

He had started work as a labourer at the town electricity works in Buccleuch Street in 1902 and by 1909 was promoted to the role of jointer.

He had been a pre-war territorial with the King’s Own and was due to go to a cadet training school to be commissioned as an officer.

His Military Cross was awarded for his bravery in taking command when all the officers of his company had been wounded or killed.

The Barrow News, Saturday, on February 17 in 1917 described the scene at Walney for Cpl McDowell’s presentation.

An article noted: “Quite a pleasant gathering took place in the yard of the Vickerstown council schools on Friday afternoon, when Corporal W. H, McDowell, of Vengeance Street, Walney, and one of the headmaster's old boys, was presented with the Military Medal for services rendered.

“In the large playground the school children and soldiers were lined up, whilst many parents of scholars and friends were also present.

“Mr F. Thompson, headmaster of the schools presided, and he was supported by the mayor (Alderman Alfred Barrow), the town clerk (Mr L. Hewlett), the mace bearer (Mr S. Hooper), Major Maples (Garrison staff officer), Mr W. Page, Cpl McDowell, and his father and mother.

“In addressing those present, Mr Thompson intimated that teachers, scholars and himself were pleased to welcome the mayor, Major Maples and others present on that memorable occasion - the presenting of a Military Medal to an old pupil of the school.

“He wished to congratulate Cpl McDowell on being awarded that coveted honour, and they were proud of the fact that he received his early instruction in those schools.

“In a letter to him, last Christmas, amongst other matters, Cpl McDowell modestly wrote: ‘Perhaps you will be pleased to learn that I have been awarded the Military Medal for a little matter that was luck enough to come my way’.”

The mayor pinned the medal on the corporal's chest and the soldier was presented with a luminous silver wrist watch, paid for by the scholars and teachers of the school.

The deed for which Cpl McDowell won the Military Medal was described as: “In November, the Germans were shelling the small village of Le Fermont, on the Western Front.

“Cpl W. H. McDowell was signalling for our batteries, when the telephone communications suddenly ceased.

“Our wires had become damaged owing to the shelling and it was urgently necessary that these wires should be repaired.

“Cpl McDowell reported the damage to his commanding officer, and volunteered to go - though the village was still being heavily shelled - and try and repair the damaged wire.

“This he was successful in doing, the communications were re-established.”

The mayor spoke to the pupils and reminded them that they were the men and women of the future, to whom the country must look.

He was sure they would be quite ready and willing to serve their country if called upon to do so.

Cpl McDowell was a pre-war territorial with the 1/ 4 th Battalion of the King's Own Royal Lancaster Regiment and was attached to the Machine Gun Corps in 1917.

He was later with the Royal Engineers and his military records show that he was still suffering the effects of poison gas in 1919.

The 1911 census shows 15-year-old William Henry McDowell living at 58 Vengeance Street, Vickerstown.

He was a coppersmith.