A FIRST World War hero from Norley has been immortalised in music as the subject of a powerful song.

Second Lieutenant Arthur Palfreyman joined the army in 1914 and took part in the last 100 days of the war.

But sadly, with only just over a month to go before armistice, he lost his life in a bloody night-time battle in Mortho Wood, France.

And Arthur’s ultimate sacrifice for his country has now been recognised with the CD ‘Calibre of Fate’ composed by his great great nephew Carl Appleton and his friend Stewart Boskett.

Arthur’s family have been keen supporters of Norley’s Wildflower Memorial Walk, which is dedicated to 11 men from the village who died and one who was severely wounded during the Great War.

This has involved making Christmas wreaths for each of the 12 plaques along the walk for a number of years.

And Phil Gifford, chair of Norley Wildlife Group who maintain the walk, has praised the family, Carl and Stewart for their work to ensure those who died serving their county are not forgotten.

Northwich Guardian:

“I was powerfully affected after hearing the track ‘Arthur Palfreyman (War Hero)’, and the other tracks entitled ‘Battle of Cambrai’ and ‘Legends of the Night Raid’ are no less intensely felt,” he said.

“Both Carl and Stewart have produced a most fitting tribute to this brave young man, a gardener aged only 23, whose loss devastated his family.

“I am sure those that listen to it will also be moved, and in the words on the Tommy Memorial for the other 10 Norley men who died – ‘give thanks for your lives, the peace we brought, and fight with warrior words for war to cease’.”

Carl has kindly given Norley Wildlife Group some copies of the CD and they will be on sale at the The Stores on School Bank for £10 each.

All money raised will go towards maintaining the walk and the two new paths that were recently added.

To hear the tracks from the CD, visit youtube.com/watch?v=8Ve5qscKoGg.