VC winner James to be honoured in town
Heroism is to be marked by memorial
A war hero from Dunblane who was awarded a Victoria Cross for bravery will be honoured at a special ceremony later this month.
James Huffam twice braved machine gun fire while fighting in the First World War.
His heroic efforts will be recognised when on August 31 a memorial is installed in the town close to the house in which he was born, near Stirling Road .
Guests, including his son Bob, will turn out on the day to pay tribute to the hero who was born in Dunblane but moved away from the area at a young age.
Second Lieutenant Huffam was aged just 21, and fighting in France with The Duke of Wellington’s (West Riding) Regiment, when he performed the act of bravery on August 31, 1918.
Along with three other men he rushed an enemy machine gun post at St Servin’s Farm and put it out of action. Although their position was then heavily attacked, Mr Huffam managed to carry a wounded comrade to safety.
Later in the night he was joined by two men and they rushed another enemy machine gun – capturing eight prisoners and allowing the advance to continue.
He was later seconded to the RAF where, as a Flying Officer, he was lucky to survive a number of accidents and crashes.
He retired at the rank of Major in 1938 but time away from the military didn’t last long as he was called up again in 1939 at the outbreak of World War Two.
Mr Huffam then took on the role of Assistant Provost Marshal and was involved in the D-Day Landings.
After the war, he worked to recruit officers for the army before eventually retiring once more in 1955. He passed away in Middlesex in 1968 at the age of 70.
Mr Huffam had three brothers and two sisters. Two of his brothers died shortly after the war having sustained injuries, one died in battle and one of his sisters died during World War Two.
Ian Ballance, chairman of the Royal British Legion Dunblane branch, said similar ceremonies were being held across the country, in the birthplaces of Victoria Cross recipients, to celebrate their bravery.
Mr Ballance said: “As a town we are very proud that someone born here accomplished so much. I would like to thank Stirling Council and Jean Houston [Governance officer and clerk to the Lieutenancy] for working extremely hard in helping put this all together.”
The ceremony will commence at noon close to the entrance of the railway station.
Guests will include Mr Huffam’s son Bob who has taken a ferry over from Northern Ireland.Following this there will be a reception in the Victoria Hall with presentations by pupils from Dunblane High and Queen Victoria school.