William Odgers | |
|---|---|
| Born | (1834-02-14)14 February 1834 Falmouth, Cornwall |
| Died | 20 December 1873(1873-12-20) (aged 39) Saltash,Cornwall |
| Buried | St Stephen's Churchyard, Saltash |
| Allegiance | United Kingdom |
| Service | Royal Navy |
| Rank | Quartermaster |
| Unit | HMS Niger |
| Battles / wars | |
| Awards | Victoria Cross |
William OdgersVC (14 February 1834 – 20 December 1873) was aRoyal Navy sailor and a recipient of theVictoria Cross, the highest award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British andCommonwealth forces.
Odgers was born inFalmouth,Cornwall, on 14 February 1834.
Odgers was 26 years old, and aleading seaman in theRoyal Navy during theFirst Taranaki War in New Zealand when the following deed took place for which he was awarded the VC.
On 28 March 1860 atOmata, Leading Seaman Odgers ofHMS Niger displayed conspicuous gallantry when a party of officers, sailors and marines from the ship stormed Kaipopo Pa during operations against Maori insurgents. His citation read:
On the 28th of March, 1860, William Odgers displayed conspicuous gallantry at the Storming of a Pah during operations against Rebel Natives in New Zealand; having been the first to enter it under a heavy fire, and having assisted in hauling down the enemy's colours.[1]
This was the first VC won in New Zealand. A few days later, HMSNiger bombarded civilian fishing villages at Warea, about 40 kilometres south of New Plymouth, where the defeated Maori force had regrouped, with cannon and rockets.
This action was labelled a "fictional triumph" and a myth by New Zealandrevisionist historianJames Belich.[2] However Nigel Prickett embellished the action as a catastrophic defeat for southern insurgents who virtually no casualties Kaipopo Pa.[3]
Odgers later achieved the rank ofquartermaster, and was in the Coast Guard Service. He died inSaltash, Cornwall, on 20 December 1873.
His medal is displayed at Sheesh Mahal Museum,Patiala, India.[4]
