James Williams Adams
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The Reverend James Williams Adams |
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|---|---|
Reverend James Adams on a cigarette card
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| Born |
24 November 1839 Cork, Ireland |
| Died | 20 October 1903 (aged 63) Ashwell, Rutland |
| Buried | Ashwell Churchyard, Rutland |
| Allegiance | United Kingdom |
| Service/ |
Bengal Ecclesiastical Department |
| Battles/wars |
Second Anglo-Afghan War Third Anglo-Burmese War |
| Awards |
Victoria Cross Mentioned in Despatches (3) |
| Other work | Honorary Chaplain to King Edward VII |
James Williams Adams VC (24 November 1839 – 20 October 1903) was an Irish Anglican chaplain and a recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces. He was the first clergyman, and the last of five civilians, to be awarded the VC.
Adams was born in Cork, Ireland on 24 November 1839. He was the only son of James O'Brien Adams, magistrate, and his wife, Elizabeth Williams.
He was educated at Hamblin and Porter's Grammar School, Cork and Trinity College, Dublin and ordained in 1863. His first curacy was in Hyde, Hampshire, from 1863 to 1865 and then at Shottesbrooke, Berkshire, from 1865 to 1866. In October 1866 Adams became a chaplain on the Bengal establishment under Bishop Robert Milman at Calcutta.
Reverend James Williams Adams was 40 years old, and a chaplain in the Bengal Ecclesiastical Department (serving as chaplain to the Kabul Field Force), British Indian Army during the Second Afghan War when on 11 December 1879 he carried out the actions for which he was awarded the VC. The citation was published in a supplement to the London Gazette of 24 August 1881 (dated 26 August 1881) and read:
War Office, August 24, 1881.
THE Queen having been graciously pleased, by Warrant under Her Royal Sign Manual, bearing date the 6th of August, 1881, to direct that the decoration of the Victoria Cross shall be conferred on Members of the Indian Ecclesiastical Establishments who may be qualified to receive the same, in accordance with the rules and ordinances made and ordained for the government thereof, provided that it be established in any case that the person was serving under the orders of a General or other Officer in command of Troops in the Field when he performed the act of bravery for which it is proposed to confer the decoration :—
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