Tom Edwin Adlam

Tom Edwin Adlam
Tom Adlam as seen on a Gallaher cigarette card
Born	21 October 1893 Salisbury, Wiltshire
Died	28 May 1975 (aged 81) Hayling Island, Hampshire
Buried at	St Matthew's Churchyard, Blackmoor
Allegiance	United Kingdom
Service/branch	British Army
Years of service	1912 - 1945
Rank	Lieutenant Colonel
Unit	7th Battalion, The Bedfordshire Regiment Royal Engineers
Battles/wars	World War I - First Battle of the Somme World War II
Awards	Victoria Cross Silver Medal of Military Valor (Italy)
Other work	Teacher

Lieutenant Colonel Tom Edwin Adlam VC (21 October 1893 – 28 May 1975) was an English 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.

Adlam was twenty two years old, and a temporary second lieutenant in the 7th Battalion, The Bedfordshire Regiment, British Army during the First World War when the following deed took place for which he was awarded the VC.

On 27 September 1916 at Thiepval, France, a portion of a village which had defied capture had to be taken at all costs and Second Lieutenant Adlam rushed from shell-hole to shell-hole under very heavy fire collecting men for a sudden rush. At this stage he was wounded in the leg but in spite of his wound he led the rush, captured the position and killed the occupants. Throughout the day he continued to lead his men and on the following day, although wounded again he still led and encouraged them. His magnificent example and behaviour produced far-reaching results.

In civilian life, Adlam was a teacher at Brook Street School in Basingstoke and a member of the National Union of Teachers.

Adlam served in the Second World War with the Royal Engineers (Movement Control Section), and later achieved the rank of lieutenant colonel.

His Victoria Cross is displayed at Salisbury Guild Hall

References

• Monuments to Courage (David Harvey, 1999)
• The Register of the Victoria Cross (This England, 1997)
• VCs of the First World War - The Somme (Gerald Gliddon, 1994)

External links

• Location of grave and VC medal (Hampshire)
• Burial location of Tom Adlam "Hampshire"
• Location of Tom Adlam's Victoria Cross "Salisbury Guild Hall"