VC hero postman’s stamp of courage

AN Oldham postman who won the Victoria Cross is to be honoured as part of Royal Mail’s World War One commemorations.

Sergeant John Hogan (30), from Royton, who served in the 2nd Battalion, Manchester Regiment, was awarded the VC in 1915 for his courage while recapturing a trench near Festubert, France. He died in 1943 and is buried in Chadderton Cemetery.

Sgt Hogan was one of four Post Office staff to be awarded Britain’s highest military honour.

His story and many more of courage and bravery will be told throughout a five-year programme by the Royal Mail using stamps, imagery, historic memorials and artefacts synonymous with the conflict.

Over 75,000 postal workers fought in World War One, including 12,000 men who fought in its own regiment, the Post Office Rifles.

Sgt Hogan is one of three local heroes to be awarded the Victoria Cross.

Commemorative paving stones will be laid in memory of Sgt Hogan, Walter Mills, from Oldham, and Thomas Steele, from Springhead in the borough this year.