Wood Street to be renamed in honour of Crimean War VC recipient

The grave of Private Anthony Palmer VC (10 March 1819 – 12 December 1892) and family, located in Heywood Cemetery, Rochdale

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Wood Street in Heywood is set to be renamed in commemoration of Private Anthony Palmer, a Crimean war hero and Victoria Cross recipient, who is buried in Heywood Cemetery.

A heritage sign will be unveiled on Wood Street, outside Heywood Library, at 1.30pm on Sunday 24 August, to mark the official renaming of the street to ‘Private Anthony Palmer VC Parade’.

Other activities on the day include the ‘Private Anthony Palmer VC’ parade, which all veterans are invited to take part in. It will leave The Bay Horse pub on Torrington Street at 1pm.

Councillor Alan McCarthy, Lead Member for the Armed Forces, said: “Private Palmer’s story is one of gallantry and selflessness, he is buried in Heywood and, as such, we have an obligation to preserve his memory and to recognise his incredible heroism.”

Private Palmer was born on the 10 March 1819 in Brereton Green, Cheshire. He joined the British Army and served with the 3rd Battalion, Grenadier Guards during the Crimean War (1854-1856).

He is buried at Heywood Cemetery, in a family plot with father James and mother Mary Rachel. The citation on his gravestone reads ‘An upright, valorous, god-fearing hero much beloved’.

Following the War, he was presented with the Victoria Cross, the highest military honour, by Queen Victoria at Hyde Park in London in June, 1857.