Frederick William Owen Potts

Frederick William Owen Potts
Born	18 December 1892 Reading, Berkshire, England
Died	2 November 1943 (aged 50) Reading, Berkshire, England
Buried	Reading Crematorium
Allegiance	United Kingdom
Service/branch	British Army
Rank	Lance-Corporal
Unit	1/1st Berkshire Yeomanry
Battles/wars	World War I - Battle of Gallipoli
Awards	Victoria Cross

Frederick William Owen Potts, VC, (18 December 1892 – 2 November 1943), more commonly known as Trooper Fred Potts, 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.

Potts was born on 18 December 1892, and first came to public notice in 1913, when he saved a five-year-old boy named Charles Rex from drowning in the River Thames. By 1915, he was 22 years old, and a private in the 1/1st Berkshire Yeomanry of the British Army. During the Gallipoli Campaign of the First World War the following deed took place for which he was awarded the VC.

On 21 August 1915 in the attack on Hill 70, Potts (although wounded in the thigh) remained for over 48 hours under the Turkish trenches with another private from his regiment who was severely wounded, and unable to move. He finally fixed a shovel to the equipment of his wounded comrade and using this as a sledge, dragged the man back over 600 yards to safety, being under fire all the way. He became known as The Hero with the Shovel. He was feted his return from Gallipoli, the press articles of the time can be seen on the Potts Trust website. In 1967 The Victor children's magazine told the story very graphically on the front and back covers, it used to feature a story of bravery every week. This article has been used by the Memorial Trust to explain the story at local schools as the graphical presentation, being very much "of its time" appealed to children.The Berkshire Yeomanry Museum website explains the story.

Potts was born and raised on Edgehill Street in the Katesgrove area of Reading. After the war, during which he eventually achieved the rank of lance-corporal, he kept a tailor's shop on the parallel Alpine Street. He was a Mason and in 1934 was Master of the Aldermaston Lodge. More about his later life can be found at reference. Potts died on 2 November 1943 at the age of 50. His grave is at Reading Crematorium, whilst his medals are held by the Imperial War Museum.

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