Evans’ tribute to Todger VC in Parliament
RUNCORN MP Graham Evans has recalled the First World War derring-do of Runcorn soldier Thomas ‘Todger’ Jones VC in a speech in the House Of Commons.
Mr Evans recounted Todger’s feat of storming a German trench singlehandedly against orders while shooting from the hip only to seize more than 100 enemy soldiers and march them back to allied lines in an act that would earn him the Victoria Cross (VC).
The tale was relayed during a speech to mark the centenary of the Battle Of The Somme.
Todger was a ‘great man’ despite being ‘diminutive’, Mr Evans said.
During his speech the Weaver Vale MP spoke about 10 soldiers who were killed, three of those at the Somme, from the 87 villagers who went to fight.
He also described how he had walked and cycled the Somme, and he also took his girlfriend and future wife to the area, quipping ‘I know how to treat a girl’.
Mr Evans also sought assurances from Bob Stewart MP that the UK would rally to the aid of Nato member state attacked today, to which Mr Stewart replied that the nation would.
Describing Todger’s heroics, Mr Evans said: “Todger received the VC at Buckingham Palace during the First World War and went to Runcorn and told the people that he dedicated his VC to his comrades on the front line.
“Despite what we have said about the horror, all he wanted to do was to go back and serve on the front line.
“He earned a DCM for an act that, in my view, was even braver than the one for which he earned the VC.
“That says something about the character of the British nation.
“I was pleased to raise funds for a magnificent bronze statue of Todger in Runcorn.”