William Robert Fountaine Addison (18 September 1883 – 7 January 1962) was an English Anglican priest and army chaplain. He was a 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.

Early life

William Addison was born in North Warnborough, Hampshire, on 18 September 1883 to William Grylis Addison and Alice Addison. He was educated at Odiham Grammar School, Odiham, Hants. The family moved to Kent when he was 13, leading British government authorities to believe he had been born in Kent until the error was revealed by the chair of the Odiham branch of the Royal British Legion. He was ordained at Salisbury Cathedral in May 1913 and became curate of St Edmund's Church, Salisbury (now closed).

thumb|160px|left|Addison's grave in [[Brookwood Cemetery]]

Later life

Addison was a Freemason and was initiated into Aldershot Camp Lodge No. 1331 on 14 November 1923.

After the war, he continued as an army chaplain and served at Malta, Khartoum and Shanghai and at army bases in England. He was Senior Chaplain to the Forces from 1934 to 1938, when he left the army and became a parish priest. He was rector of Coltishall with Great Hautbois in Norfolk from 1938 to 1958. On the outbreak of World War II he returned to the army and again served as Senior Chaplain to the Forces. He died in St Leonards-on-Sea, East Sussex, and is buried in Brookwood Cemetery in Surrey.

A replica set of Addison's medals is on display at the Museum of Army Chaplaincy, and at Sarum College in Salisbury.

References

  • ADDISON, Rev. William Robert Fountaine, Who Was Who, A & C Black, 1920–2008; online edn, Oxford University Press, Dec 2007, accessed 19 Nov 2012

Bibliography

  • Grave refurbished
  • Burial location of William Addison (Brookwood Cemetery)
  • The Brookwood Cemetery Society (Holders of the Victoria Cross Commemorated in Brookwood Cemetery)