page_title: Thomas Mottershead
section_title: Background
hierarchical_section_title: Thomas Mottershead / Background
caption_attribution_description: English: Statue of Thomas Mottershead V.C. at Victoria Park, Widnes
context_page_description: Thomas Mottershead VC, DCM 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 forces.
context_section_description: Thomas Mottershead was born in Widnes, Lancashire on 17 January 1892. He was the son of Thomas and Lucy Mottershead. He studied engineering at Widnes Technical School and was apprenticed as a fitter and turner after leaving school. In February 1914, he married Lilian Medlicott Bree and the couple had a son, Sydney, the following year. Mottershead was living at 31 Lilac Avenue in Widnes and working as a garage mechanic when World War I began. He enlisted in the Royal Flying Corps on 10 August 1914 as a mechanic,  He was posted to the Central Flying school at Upavon and was promoted to Sergeant on 1 April 1916.
  In May 1916 he began pilot training and 9 June of that year he obtained his Flying Certificate. He was posted to No.25 Squadron at St Omer, flying the FE 2, on 6 July 1916  and saw action in the Battle of the Somme.
caption: Statue of Mottershead in  Victoria Park, Widnes.
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