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The Trooper Potts VC
Memorial today... »
The Potts VC Trust
Patron:
The Hon Mrs Bayliss JP,
Lord Lieutenent of Berkshire
Address:
c/o The Office for the Lieutenancy of Berkshire
Civic Offices
Reading
RG1 7AE
Chairman of The General Committee
Cllr Fred Pugh fred.pugh@reading.gov.uk
Chairman of the Finance Committee
Richard Bennett
bennettbaker@msn.com
Chairman of the Implementation Committee
john.chapman@purley.eu
Governance
Click here for information on the sponsors of the appeal
Literature
Read some publications about Potts .
Make a donation to
The Trooper Potts VC
Memorial today... »
The Potts VC Trust
Patron:
The Hon Mrs Bayliss JP,
Lord Lieutenent of Berkshire
Address:
c/o The Office for the Lieutenancy of Berkshire
Civic Offices
Reading
RG1 7AE
Chairman of The General Committee
Cllr Fred Pugh fred.pugh@reading.gov.uk
Chairman of the Finance Committee
Richard Bennett
bennettbaker@msn.com
Chairman of the Implementation Committee
Governance
Click here for information on the sponsors of the appeal
Literature
Read some publications about Potts .
Welcome
Frederick Owen Potts is Reading's only Victoria Cross holder and is virtually unknown in the town due mainly to his own modesty. Fred died in 1943 and many people in Reading believe the time is long overdue to recognise his bravery with a suitable memorial in a town centre location.
The Trooper Potts Memorial Trust therefore has been set up to raise the necessary funds and commission a suitable memorial. On this website you can read his story and find out about the appeal to raise the funds necessary to commemorate a very brave and modest man.
The project to properly commemorate Fred's bravery was initiated after a broadcast on BBC Radio Berkshire by Graham McKechnie and Jon Cooksey. You can hear this broadcast by clicking HERE
As well as commemorating Fred Potts we are also mindful of the sacrifices of the many men of the Berkshire Yeomanry who gave their lives, both in the battle for Scimitar Hill and throughout World War One. Many of these lie in unmarked graves in Gallipoli. What is so encouraging is ther attitude of the people of Turkey today, who give honour and comfort to all the combattants of that dreadful campaign.
After the war, the commander of the Turkish Army, Kemal Ataturk, who became President of Turkey, set out these sentiments in his declaration:-
Those Heroes that shed their blood
and lost their lives,
you are now lying in the soil of a
friendly country.
Therefore rest in peace.
There is no difference between the Johnnies
and the Mehmets, to us where they lie side by side
here in this country of ours
You the mothers,
Who sent their sons from far away countries
wipe away your tears.
Your sons are now lying in our bosom
and are in peace
After having lost their lives on this land they have become our sons as well
Ataturk 1934
But we are even more mindful of the sacrifices made by so many men and especially those who have suffered in recent years. So we are also support Help for Heroes.
And we recall the words of President J F Kennedy
A Nation reveals itself, not only by the men it produces; but also by the men it honours, the men it remembers
Click on one of the panels on the left to navigate around the site
Many thanks for your interest.
News
Concert
Next June the concert to be given by the King's Singers at Reading Town Hall will be supporting the Potts appeal,
Recent Stories
The Trust held its first AGM on November 11th
To appoint Trustee and to launch the appeal proper following appointment of Sculptor Tom Murphy
FOLLOW THE NEWS link top left
Back to top »
Frederick Owen Potts is Reading's only Victoria Cross holder and is virtually unknown in the town due mainly to his own modesty. Fred died in 1943 and many people in Reading believe the time is long overdue to recognise his bravery with a suitable memorial in a town centre location.
The Trooper Potts Memorial Trust therefore has been set up to raise the necessary funds and commission a suitable memorial. On this website you can read his story and find out about the appeal to raise the funds necessary to commemorate a very brave and modest man.
The project to properly commemorate Fred's bravery was initiated after a broadcast on BBC Radio Berkshire by Graham McKechnie and Jon Cooksey. You can hear this broadcast by clicking HERE
As well as commemorating Fred Potts we are also mindful of the sacrifices of the many men of the Berkshire Yeomanry who gave their lives, both in the battle for Scimitar Hill and throughout World War One. Many of these lie in unmarked graves in Gallipoli. What is so encouraging is ther attitude of the people of Turkey today, who give honour and comfort to all the combattants of that dreadful campaign.
After the war, the commander of the Turkish Army, Kemal Ataturk, who became President of Turkey, set out these sentiments in his declaration:-
Those Heroes that shed their blood
and lost their lives,
you are now lying in the soil of a
friendly country.
Therefore rest in peace.
There is no difference between the Johnnies
and the Mehmets, to us where they lie side by side
here in this country of ours
You the mothers,
Who sent their sons from far away countries
wipe away your tears.
Your sons are now lying in our bosom
and are in peace
After having lost their lives on this land they have become our sons as well
Ataturk 1934
But we are even more mindful of the sacrifices made by so many men and especially those who have suffered in recent years. So we are also support Help for Heroes.
And we recall the words of President J F Kennedy
A Nation reveals itself, not only by the men it produces; but also by the men it honours, the men it remembers
Click on one of the panels on the left to navigate around the site
Many thanks for your interest.
News
Concert
Next June the concert to be given by the King's Singers at Reading Town Hall will be supporting the Potts appeal,
Recent Stories
The Trust held its first AGM on November 11th
To appoint Trustee and to launch the appeal proper following appointment of Sculptor Tom Murphy
FOLLOW THE NEWS link top left
Back to top »
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