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James William Adams was an Irish 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.

Details

He was 40 years old, and a Reverend in the Bengal Ecclesiastical Department , British Indian Army during the Second Afghan War when the following deed took place for which he was awarded the VC.

On 11 December 1879 at Killa Kazi , Afghanistan, some men of the 9th Lancers had fallen, with their horses, into a wide, deep ditch and the enemy were close upon them. The Reverend J.W. Adams rushed into the water, dragged the horses off the men, upon whom they were lying, and extricated them. All this time he was under very heavy fire and up to his waist in water. Some of the enemy were within a few yards of him and, having let his own horse go in order to render more effectual assistance, Mr Adams had to escape on foot.

Further information

One of only five civilians to be awarded the VC. Grave/memorial at Buried at Ashwell Churchyard, Rutland, England. Headstone.

The medal

please update if you know where his medal is publicly displayed

Reference

• Irish Winners of the Victoria Cross (Richard Doherty & David Truesdale, 2000)
• Monuments To Courage (David Harvey, 1999)
• The Register of the Victoria Cross (This England, 1997)

See also

External links

• Burial location of James Adams (Rutland)

This page has been migrated from the Victoria Cross Reference with permission.