ODIHAM'S VICTORIA CROSS SOILDERS
Odiham Grammar school served pupils from Odiham and further afield. Both Odiham Parish’s VCs attended the school as well as others awarded DSO and MC and MM.The Roll of Honour of those who made the supreme sacrifice for King and Country was enshrined on a memorial tablet in the school Dining Room.The School became co-educational during the headship of Mr Britten (1903-1909) and numbers increased to about 80 pupils at the start of WW1.Cecil HS Willson was headmaster throughout the war years. He began a kindergarten for those aged 5-10 in 1917 and the total number of pupils rose to 120 by 1918
For Valour & Courage Rev William Fountain Addison VC
He carried a wounded man to the cover of a trench, and assisted several others to the same cover, after binding their wounds under heavy rifle and machine-gun fire. In addition to these unaided efforts, by his splendid example and utter disregard for personal danger, he encouraged the stretcher bearers to go forward under heavy fire, and collect the wounded.
For Valour & Courage manley james VC
For most conspicuous bravery and devotion to duty in action. Captain James led his company forward with magnificent courage and determination, inflicting severe losses on the enemy and capturing 27 prisoners and two machine guns. He was wounded but refused to leave his company and repulsed three hostile onslaughts on the next day. Two days later, although the enemy had broken through his right flank, he refused to withdraw and made a most determined stand, inflicting very heavy losses on the enemy and gaining valuable time for the withdrawal of the guns. He was ordered to by the senior officer on the spot to hold on to the last in order to enable the brigade to be extracted. He then led his company forward in a local counter attack, on his own initiative, and was again wounded. He was last seen working a machine gun single-handed after having been wounded a third time. No praise can be too high for the gallant stand made by his company and Captain James by his dauntless courage and magnificent example undoubtedly enabled the battalion to be withdrawn before being completely cut off.
Extracted from The Story of Odiham Grammar School 1694 -1930