Halton was born in
Warton near
Carnforth, Lancashire. He was 24 years old, and a
private in the 1st Battalion, the
King's Own Royal Regiment (Lancaster),
British Army during the
First Battle of Passchendaele of First World War when the following deed took place for which he was awarded the VC. On 12 October 1917 near Poelcapelle, Belgium, after the objective had been reached, Private Halton rushed forward about 300 yards under very heavy fire and captured a machine-gun and its crew which was causing heavy losses to our men. He then went out again and brought in 12 prisoners, showing the greatest disregard for his own safety and setting a fine example to those around him. After the war Halton was an ironworker until his retirement in 1961, and during World War II he served in the
Home Guard. A commemorative plaque was installed in Sparrow Park, Warton, unveiled on 12 October 2017 by the Deputy Mayor of Lancaster. ==The medal==