{{For|other people with the same name please|Albert Hill (disambiguation)}} {{Use dmy dates|date=December 2021}} {{Infobox military person |name=Albert Hill |birth_date=24 May 1895 |death_date=17 February 1971 |birth_place= [[Hulme]], [[Lancashire]], England |death_place= [[Pawtucket, Rhode Island]], [[United States]] |burial_place=Highland Memorial Park, Johnston, Rhode Island |image=File:Pte Albert Hill VC, Royal Welsh Fusiliers.jpg |image_size=170 |caption=Hill depicted on a [[cigarette card]] |nickname= |allegiance={{UK}} |service_years=1914–1919 |rank=Private |branch=[[Image:Flag of the British Army.svg|23px]] [[British Army]] |commands= |unit=[[Royal Welch Fusiliers|Royal Welsh Fusiliers]] |battles= [[World War I|First World War]] |awards= [[File:UK Victoria Cross ribbon bar.svg|30px]] [[Victoria Cross]]<br>[[Croix de guerre 1914–1918 (France)|Croix de Guerre]] (France)<br/>[[Cross of St. George]] (Russia) |other_work= }} [[File:Joseph Davies VC.jpg|right|thumb|220px|Memorial to [[Joseph John Davies|Joseph Davies]], Delville Wood]] '''Albert Hill''' [[Victoria Cross|VC]] (24 May 1895 – 17 February 1971) was an English recipient of the [[Victoria Cross]], the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and [[Commonwealth of Nations|Commonwealth]] forces.
==Early life== Born in [[Hulme]], [[Manchester]], one of ten children, he was a weak and frail child who after his schooling started work in a mill, before becoming an apprentice planker at Wilson Hat Manufacturers, in Wilton Street, [[Denton, Greater Manchester|Denton (Manchester)]].<ref name=tameside/>
==First World War == [[File:Manchester War Memorial 2018 10.jpg|thumb|right|Plaque at the [[Manchester Cenotaph]]]] In August 1914 he joined the 10th Battalion, the [[Royal Welch Fusiliers|Royal Welsh Fusiliers]], as a private and went to France in September 1915.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://victoriacrossonline.co.uk/albert-hill-vc |title=Albert Hill VC |website=victoriacrossonline.co.uk |date=19 February 2022 |access-date=13 September 2024}}</ref> He was awarded the [[Victoria Cross]] for his actions at [[Delville Wood]], part of the [[Battle of the Somme (1916)|Battle of the Somme]] in 1916. His citation read: {{blockquote|For most conspicuous bravery. When his battalion had deployed under very heavy fire for an attack on the enemy in a wood, he dashed forward, when the order to charge was given, and, meeting two of the enemy suddenly, bayonetted them both. He was sent later by his platoon Serjeant to get into touch with the company, and, finding himself cut off and almost surrounded by some twenty of the enemy, attacked them with bombs, killing and wounding many and scattering the remainder. He then joined a serjeant of his company and helped him to fight the way back to the lines. When he got back, hearing that his Company Officer and a scout were lying out wounded, he went out and assisted to bring in the wounded officer, two other men bringing in the scout. Finally, he himself captured and brought in as prisoners two of the enemy. His conduct throughout was magnificent.<ref>{{London Gazette |issue=29765|date=26 September 1916|page=9418|supp=y }}</ref>}}
He was also a holder of the [[France|French]] [[Croix de guerre 1914–1918 (France)|Croix de Guerre]], the Russian [[Cross of St. George]].<ref name=tameside/>
==Later years== In February 1919 he returned to work in Wilson's factory, and married Doris Wilson a year later. They emigrated to the United States in 1923, where he found work as a building labourer, and had three daughters and a son. He attempted to enlist on the outbreak of the [[Second World War]], but was advised to do defence work instead.<ref name=tameside>{{cite web |url=http://www.tameside.gov.uk/blueplaque/alberthillvc |title=A Tribute to Albert Hill VC|access-date=13 September 2024|archive-date=7 July 2022| website=tameside.gov.uk|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220707101243/https://www.tameside.gov.uk/blueplaque/alberthillvc |url-status=dead}}</ref>
He died in [[Pawtucket, Rhode Island]] in 1971 and was buried with full military honours in Highland Memorial Park, Johnston, Rhode Island.<ref name=VC.org/>
Hill Court in [[Wrexham]] is named in his honour.<ref name=tameside/>
==The Medal== Albert Hill's Victoria Cross was donated by his family and is displayed at the [[Royal Welch Fusiliers Museum]], [[Caernarfon Castle]], Wales.<ref name=VC.org>{{cite web |url=http://www.victoriacross.org.uk/ggusa.htm |title=Grave Location for Holders of the Victoria Cross in the United States of America |website=victoriacross.org.uk |access-date=13 September 2024}}</ref>
== References == {{reflist}}
==External links== {{Portal|Biography}} * {{Find a Grave|7034710}}
{{Royal Welsh}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Hill, Albert}} [[Category:1895 births]] [[Category:1971 deaths]] [[Category:British Battle of the Somme recipients of the Victoria Cross]] [[Category:People from Hulme]] [[Category:Royal Welch Fusiliers soldiers]] [[Category:British Army personnel of World War I]] [[Category:British recipients of the Croix de Guerre 1914–1918 (France)]] [[Category:English emigrants to the United States]] [[Category:Recipients of the Cross of St. George]] [[Category:British Army recipients of the Victoria Cross]] [[Category:Military personnel from Manchester]]