William McFadzean facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
William McFadzean
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William McFadzean as shown on a mural in Cregagh, Belfast
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| Nickname(s) | "Billy" |
| Born | 9 October 1895 Lurgan, County Armagh, Ireland |
| Died | 1 July 1916 (aged 20) Thiepval, France |
| Allegiance |  United Kingdom |
| Service/ |
 British Army |
| Years of service | 1914–1916 |
| Rank | Private |
| Unit | 14th Battalion, The Royal Irish Rifles |
| Battles/wars | First World War |
| Awards | Victoria Cross |
William Frederick McFadzean (born October 9, 1895 – died July 1, 1916) was a brave soldier from Ireland. He was awarded the Victoria Cross (VC), which is the highest award for bravery in the face of the enemy for British and Commonwealth soldiers. He received this award after he died, for his heroic actions on the first day of a very important battle called the Battle of the Somme during World War I.
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Early Life of William McFadzean
William Frederick McFadzean was born in Lurgan, a town in County Armagh, Ireland, on October 9, 1895. His parents, William and Annie McFadzean, were from Belfast. William was often called "Billy" by his friends and family.
Billy went to Mountpottinger National School and then studied at the Trade Preparatory School. He was a very good sportsman and stood 6 feet tall. He played rugby union for a team called Collegians RFC. After school, Billy worked for a company that made linen. He was also very interested in the military and joined two groups: the East Belfast Regiment of the Ulster Volunteers and the Young Citizens Volunteers. These groups helped train young men for military service.
McFadzean's Role in World War I
Soon after the First World War began, many people from the Ulster region of Ireland were asked to join the British Army. Billy McFadzean joined the 14th Battalion of The Royal Irish Rifles. He became a private, which is a basic rank for a soldier. His regiment was part of the 36th (Ulster) Division.
After training in Ireland and England, Billy and his regiment went to the Western Front in France in October 1915. The Western Front was the main battle area in Western Europe during the war.
Heroic Action at the Somme
From March 1916, Billy's division was stationed near Thiepval Wood. They were preparing for a huge battle called the Battle of the Somme. Their job was to advance towards a place called Grandcourt.
In the early morning of July 1, 1916, Billy's battalion was gathered in Thiepval Wood. They were getting ready to attack. While British cannons were firing at the German trenches, Billy was helping to prepare hand grenades. As he was handling a box of grenades, it accidentally fell into a trench filled with soldiers. Two of the grenades' safety pins came out, meaning they were about to explode.
Billy, knowing the danger to his friends, immediately threw himself on top of the grenades. The grenades exploded, killing him instantly. Because of his incredible bravery, only one other soldier was hurt. Billy gave his life to save his comrades.
The Victoria Cross Award
For his amazing courage, Billy McFadzean was given the Victoria Cross (VC) after his death. The VC was created in 1856 and is the highest award for bravery a soldier in the British Empire can receive.
The official statement about his bravery was published in a newspaper called the London Gazette. It said that Private McFadzean showed "most conspicuous bravery" by throwing himself on the bombs to save his comrades, even though he knew the danger.
After his death, Billy's father received letters of sympathy from military leaders. King George V also wrote to the family and provided train tickets for them to go to Buckingham Palace for the VC award ceremony. Billy McFadzean was buried in Thiepval Wood, but his grave was later lost. His name is now listed on the Thiepval Memorial in France, which remembers soldiers who died in the area and have no known grave.
Medal and Legacy
Billy McFadzean's father received his son's Victoria Cross from the King at Buckingham Palace on February 28, 1917. Today, the VC medal is kept at the Royal Ulster Rifles Museum in Belfast.
There are many ways Billy McFadzean is remembered. He is one of the most famous soldiers from the Ulster Division to receive the Victoria Cross. There is a special plaque for him at Newtownbreda Presbyterian Church in Belfast, where a memorial service was held a year after his death. There are also memorials at his parents' house and several murals in Belfast that show his image.
His name is on a memorial stone at the Thiepval Memorial and on a tablet at St. Anne's Cathedral in Belfast. In 2018, a bronze statue of him was unveiled in Lurgan. People also remember him with t-shirts, mugs, and special scrolls. There is even a well-known song called The Ballad of Billy McFadzean, which appeared in a 1995 film.
