Private
Frederick William Owen POTTS
VC
Infantry
Died: 2nd November 1943 - Age: 50

Commemorated:

1. Memorial:Freemasons VC Memorial Great Queen Street
2. Book:Beyond The Five PointsPgs 189-190
    

Awards & Titles:

Victoria Cross
 

Early Life :

Potts was born and raised on Edgehill Street in the Katesgrove area of Reading. He first came to public notice in 1913, when he saved five-year-old boy, Charles Rex, from drowning in the River Thames (Rex lived to the age of 87.)

In 1915, Potts 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, he performed the following deed, for which he was awarded the Victoria Cross.

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 Arthur Andrews, another private from his regiment who was severely wounded and unable to move. (Andrews also came from Reading.) Potts finally fixed a shovel to the equipment of his wounded comrade and, using this as a sledge, dragged the man back over 600 yards (550 m) to safety, being under fire all the way. He became known as "the hero with the shovel". He was feted on his return from Gallipoli.

After the war, during which he eventually achieved the rank of lance-corporal, he kept a tailor's shop in his home town. He was a Mason and in 1934 was Master of the Aldermaston Lodge.

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.

Service Life:

Campaigns:

Unit / Ship / Est.: Berkshire Yeomanry 

Action : War Survivor 

Although many perished in times of national conflict and in the service of their country, many more survived including those interned as Prisoners of War. Stories of those who did survive are included as part of this site, especially those with high gallantry awards, those included against an external rolls of honour and those who had a distinguished career in wartime and military leaderhip.

Citations & Commemorations :

  See more at: VC Online

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.

Masonic :

TypeLodge Name and No.Province/District :
Mother : Aldermaston No. 2760 E.C.Berkshire

Initiated
Passed
Raised
24th September 1924
5th November 1924
20th May 1925
 

Source :

The project globally acknowledges the following as sources of information for research across the whole database:

Additional Source:

Last Updated: 2020-11-22 18:52:40