b. 12/11/1891 Gloucester. d. 22/11/1917 Mesopotamia (now Iraq).
DATE OF AM ACTION: 22/11/1917 Mesopotamia.
Lieut Waddams was born at No 2, College Green, Gloucester, in 1891 and was the youngest son of five children born to Christopher Waddams, hosier and hatter, North-gate, Gloucester and his wife Harrittte Amelia (nee Dawson). He was educated at the City of London and Latymer Upper Schools. Having received an appointment with the Indian banking firm of Sir H. Seymour King and Co., he went out to Bombay in September 1912.
He had served three years in the 10th Middlesex Territorials, so it was natural that he should join the Bombay Rifles, which he did in 1918, and he was mobilised with this force at the outbreak of war. In December 1914 he was gazetted to a commission in the Indian Reserve of Officers. In February 1915, he went to Mesopotamia, and in December of that year he was promoted to Lieutenant for ‘Distinguished service in the field’ (Indian Gazette). Before leaving for India he was active in Church work, and on the occasion of the establishment of the Church in Wales he acted as treasurer to the organising committee.
AM CITATION:
In Mesopotamia, in November last, Lieutenant Waddams was instructing a class in firing rifle grenades. While a private of the 85th Burmans was under instruction, the rifle missed fire and the detonator of the grenade started working without the grenade leaving the rifle. Lieutenant Waddams, realising the danger, rushed forward, and, pushing back the soldier, seized his rifle with one hand and the grenade with the other, and tried to throw it over the wall before it exploded. Unfortunately, the grenade exploded in his hand and he received fatal injuries. The soldier whose life Lieutenant Waddams saved was only slightly injured.
BURIAL LOCATION: BASRA WAR CEMETERY, BASRA, IRAQ.
PLOT V, ROW L GRAVE 8.
LOCATION OF MEDAL: PRIVATELY HELD.
