John Molyneux (VC) facts for kids

Quick facts for kids John Molyneux
Born	22 November 1890 St Helens, Lancashire
Died	25 March 1972 (aged 81) St Helens
Allegiance	United Kingdom
Service/branch	British Army
Years of service	1914 - 1918
Rank	Sergeant
Unit	The Royal Fusiliers
Battles/wars	World War I
Awards	Victoria Cross Croix de Guerre (Belgium)

John Molyneux was an English soldier who won the Victoria Cross. This is the highest award for bravery a soldier can get in the United Kingdom and Commonwealth countries. He was born on November 22, 1890, and passed away on March 25, 1972.

Early Life

John Molyneux was born on November 22, 1890. His mother was Minnie Jane, and his father, Joseph, worked as a coal miner. People often called young John "Jack." He went to Holy Trinity school in Parr. When he was twelve, he left school to start working in the mines.

A Heroic Act

During World War I, John Molyneux was a sergeant in the 2nd Battalion of The Royal Fusiliers. He was 26 years old when he showed amazing bravery.

On October 9, 1917, in Belgium, his unit was attacking. They were stopped by heavy machine-gun fire, and many soldiers were getting hurt. Sergeant Molyneux quickly gathered a small group of soldiers. They used bombs to clear a trench in front of a nearby house. They defeated many enemy soldiers and captured a machine-gun.

Sergeant Molyneux then bravely called for others to follow him. He rushed towards the house. By the time more soldiers arrived, he was already fighting hand-to-hand with the enemy inside. The fight was short, and the enemy soldiers gave up. Because of his actions, between 20 and 30 enemy soldiers were captured.

For his bravery, he received the Victoria Cross. He also won the Croix de Guerre from Belgium.

His Medal

You can see John Molyneux's Victoria Cross medal. It is on display at the Royal Fusiliers Museum. This museum is located in the Tower of London, England.