Hungerford Arcade Trooper Potts

Recently, I had occasion to be walking past the Crown Court in Reading when I noticed that a memorial had been erected opposite the elegant gates of the building.  On closer inspection, I found that the memorial was in memory of a certain Frederick William Owen Potts who to date, has won the only Victoria Cross associated with the town.

But who was Fred Potts, and what were the circumstances of his gallantry, and what became of him?

Fred was actually born in 1892 in the Katesgrove area of Reading and lived a very obscure life until 1913 when he saved a boy called Charles Rex from drowning in the River Thames, which earned him gratitude and notice at the time.

By 1915, Fred was a soldier serving in 1/1^st Berkshire Yeomanry and found himself involved in the treacherous Gallipoli Campaign.  On the 21^st of August 1915, Fred found himself with a severely wounded comrade very near to some Turkish trenches. He himself had been wounded in the thigh but remained with his fellow soldier for over two days.  Knowing that their position was perilous, Fred constructed a sledge of sorts by attaching a shovel to the equipment of his wounded friend. He then dragged the man over six hundred yards to safety with both being under enemy fire for the whole duration.  For this bravery, Trooper Potts was awarded the Victoria Cross, and after a stay in hospital, he returned to the conflict where he achieved the rank of lance-corporal.

After the war, he kept a tailors shop in Alpine Street and like many other soldiers, slowly faded back into obscurity.  Sadly, Fred died young at the age of fifty on the 2nd of November 1943. He was buried at the Reading Crematorium where his grave can be found.

The Victoria Cross and other medals that belonged to Fred are now held by the Imperial War Museum.  Although Fred died young, the soldier that he saved, a man named Arthur Andrews, lived a long life only passing away in 1980 aged eighty-nine.  Charles Rex, the five year old boy he saved from drowning in 1913 also enjoyed a long life thanks to Fred, surviving until he was nearly ninety.  It was not until 2009 and after a radio documentary, that a reunion took place at the Imperial War Museum between the relatives of both Arthur and Fred.

Shortly after this, plans were put into place that a permanent memorial be erected in honour of Trooper Potts.  The choice of location near to the beautiful Forbury Gardens was a good one and one can see not only the memorial to Fred but a small and interesting permanent exhibition.  There is also an associated memorial, the Maiwand Lion, listing the men of Reading who perished during the horrors of World War One.

Fred also had a new road named after him in Reading, in a rather busy location to say the least.  Trooper Potts Way can be found outside of the back entrance to Reading Railway Station.  I wonder how many of the people using this thoroughfare stop and think of who Trooper Fred Potts actually was and why he is now quite celebrated by this large Berkshire town?

Stuart Miller-Osborne