King's Own Royal Regiment Museum

Victoria Cross Holders of the King's Own Royal Regiment

Private Albert Halton VC

Victoria Cross awarded to Private Albert Halton, number 241457, 1st Battalion, King’s Own Royal Lancaster Regiment

Born in May 1893 at Warton, Carnforth near Lancaster, Albert Halton was educated in Carnforth. He was working for a local contractor when he enlisted in the 5th Battalion on 15th August 1915. He joined the 1/5th Battalion in France and was wounded on the Somme in October 1916; after recuperating in the UK he was posted to the 1st Battalion. He was awarded the Victoria Cross for gallantry during an attack near Poelcappelle on 12th October 1917. The London Gazette published this citation:

“For most conspicuous bravery in attack. After the objective had been reached Private Halton rushed forward about 300 yards under very heavy rifle and shell fire, and captured a machine gun and its crew, which was causing many losses to our men. He then went out again and brought in about twelve prisoners, showing the greatest disregard of his own safety and setting a very fine example to those around him.”

After the war Albert Halton worked for many years at the Lansil Works in Lancaster until his retirement in 1961. Towards the end of his life he lived at Westfield Memorial Village in Lancaster. He was a staunch supporter of the Regimental Association and attended most functions until his death on 24th July 1971. Full military honours were provided for his funeral at Lancaster and Morecambe Crematorium.

His Victoria Cross and other medals were presented to the King's Own Royal Regiment Museum by his family in 1993.

The family archive was donated to the King's Own Museum in 2018.

Report in the Lancaster Guardian of 1st December 1917

Report in the Westmorland Gazette of 1st December 1917

Report in the Lancaster Guardian of 5th January 1918 - Enthusiastic Welcome at Carnforth

Reports in the Westmorland Gazette, January 1918

Private Albert Halton VC
Accession Number: KO2590/377

Private Albert Halton VC, seated on the left, with 1st Battalion comrades including Private Tom Wilkinson, MM, at Arras in 1917.
Accession Number: KONEG0232

Books owned by Albert Halton VC:

(for the family archive, including photographs and documents see KO3110)

The Victoria Cross, The Empire’s Roll of Valour. Compiled by Lieutenant Colonel Rupert Steward, MVO, (Late) Duke of Cornwall’s Light Infantry, His Majesty’s Body Guard of the Honourable Corps of Gentlemen-at-Arms.
Published by Hutchinson & Co. (Publishers) Ltd 34-36 Paternoster Row, London.
Copy presented to Albert Halton VC
Accession Number: KO3099/01

Insert for book ko3099/01 “Christmas 1928. The Compiler and the two Scottish friends who have helped him have much pleasure in presenting you, as a holder of the VC, with a copy of The Victoria Cross, The Empire’s Roll of Valour.
Accession Number: KO3099/02

The Legion Book, Edited by Captain H Cotton Minchin. Published by Cassell and Company Ltd, London. Third Impression Oct 1929.
On the inside is written “A Halton VC. Received this book in the House of Lords, on the 9th of November 1929”
Accession Number: KO3099/03

The Victoria Cross. The stories of the winning of the Victoria Cross which are represented in the Exhibition. For the Centenary Exhibition 15 Jun 1956 to 7 Jul 1956, at Marlborough House.
Copy owned by Albert Halton VC
Accession Number: KO3099/04

The King’s Own Territorial Force, Being a Record of the 1/5th Battalion, The King’s Own Royal Lancaster Regiment in the European War 1914-1918, Compiled by Albert Hodgkinson, Captain and Quartermaster 1/5 King’s Own (Royal Lancaster) Regiment from Battalion Records and his personal diary, as a small tribute to those who maintained the honour of their inheritance.
Printed by The Lewes Press, Limited, High Street, Lewes, 1921.
Copy owned by Albert Halton VC
Accession Number: KO3099/05

Souvenir Card of the 1/5th Battalion, King’s Own Royal Lancaster Regiment.
Card without name but owned by Albert Halton VC
Accession Number: KO3099/06

The King’s Own The Story of a Royal Regiment, Volume One, 1680 to 1814. By Colonel L I Cowper.
Published by the Regiment in 1939.
Copy owned by Albert Halton VC
Accession Number: KO3099/07

The King’s Own The Story of a Royal Regiment, Volume Two, 1815 to 1914.
By Colonel L I Cowper.
Published by the Regiment in 1939.
Copy owned by Albert Halton VC
Accession Number: KO3099/08

The King’s Own The Story of a Royal Regiment, Volume Three, 1914-1950 by Colonel J M Cowper.
Published by the Regiment in 1957.
Copy owned by Albert Halton VC
Accession Number: KO3099/09