A WOMAN from Middlewich has planted a tree in honour of her Great Granddad after discovering he was awarded several medals for his bravery in the First World War.

Irene Vickers, 58, from Eardswick Road, Middlewich, had never met her great granddad Sgt Christopher Madden, who was born in Ireland before moving to the north west, but felt so proud of him that she decided to plant a tree in his name.

This came after Irene and her family discovered that Christopher had been awarded the Military Medal for going out into no man’s land under heavy fire to rescue a wounded officer, during the First World War.

As well as the Military Medal, Christopher was also awarded the 1914-15 star, the British War medal, the Victory medal, and the Territorial efficiency medal.

The information about the awards was traced through various records online and his Military award appeared in the London Gazette on January 14, 1918. 

His family were unaware of Christopher’s outstanding bravery due to the fact that he had to sell his medals during the great depression to feed his family. 

Irene said: “It is so tragic that he had to sell his medals to put food on the table for his family and I just want him to get the recognition he deserves for his bravery and for being so modest.”

Irene got the idea to honour her great granddad by planting the tree after reading about the Woodland Trust project in The Guardian.

Irene added: “We found out about Christopher when we were doing some family history research.

“After that I read about the trees in The Guardian and I thought it was a really nice way to make sure he’s not forgotten.”

The tree is planted in one of the Woodland Trust’s centenary woods in Langley, Kent.

Christopher also volunteered as a member of the Home Guard in the Second World War, until he died in 1941 as a result of gassing years earlier.

Northwich Guardian: Woodland Trust