One of the most notable graves at Boarshaw Cemetery is that of Lance Corporal Joel Halliwell VC. He was born in Middleton, Lancashire on 29th December 1881, and served in the Lancashire Fusiliers during the First World War. During the Battle of the River Aisne, Muscourt, France, on 17th May 1918, Lance Corporal Halliwell was captured by the Germans and was a prisoner until he managed to escape. On his way back to the British lines, seeing many wounded comrades lying on the ground, he mounted a stray German horse which he rode back to pick up a wounded man and brought him back to safety, in spite of heavy shellfire. He went on to repeat this process, back and forth, through heavy enemy gunfire, with no thought for his own safety, some ten times, until his horse received a severe wound and he could no longer continue. For conspicuous bravery and devotion to duty, he was awarded the Victoria Cross. He died in Oldham, Lancashire aged 76 on 14th June 1958.