Regimental History
Victoria Cross Holders of the King's Own Royal Regiment
The Reverend William Robert Fontaine Addison VC
The Reverend William Robert Fontaine Addison VC
Chaplain to the Forces Attached 6th (Service) Battalion, King's Own
Royal Lancaster Regiment
William Addison was born at Cranbrook in Kent in September 1883. He was
educated at Sarum College and was ordained in 1913 becoming Curate of
St. Edmund, Salisbury, Wiltshire in 1913. When war broke out he joined
the army to provide assistance as a chaplain.
Addison was attached to the 6th Battalion King’s Own Royal Lancaster
Regiment as the chaplain. He received his Victoria Cross for the
assistance he gave to the injured. The citation records:
“For conspicuous bravery at Sannaiyat, Mesopotamia. He carried a wounded
man to the cover of a trench, and assisted several others to the same
cover, after binding up their wounds, under heavy rifle and machine-gun
fire. In addition to these unaided efforts, by his splendid example and
utter disregard of personal danger, he encouraged the stretcher-bearers
to go forward under heavy fire and collect the wounded”.
William Addison remained as a chaplain with the army until 1938 when he
retired. On the outbreak of war in 1939 he rejoined the army and became
Deputy Assistant Chaplain General in 1942. He died at St. Leonards on
Sea, Sussex on 7th January 1962 and was buried at Brookwood Cemetery.
Only a proportion of our collections
are on display at anyone time. Certain items are on loan for display
in other institutions. An appointment is required to consult any of
our collections which are held in store.
