Dunblane salutes VC hero
A Victoria Cross recipient who twice braved machine gun fire while fighting in the First World War is set to be honoured in Dunblane.
The Royal British Legion are arranging for a special memorial slab to be installed in James Huffam’s home town in August of next year.
Second Lieutenant Huffam was aged just 21 when he performed a heroic deed while fighting in France with The Duke of Wellington’s (West Riding) Regiment on August 18, 1918.
Along with three other men he rushed an enemy machine gun post and put it out of action.
His position was then heavily attacked and he carried a wounded comrade to safety.
Later in the night, at St Servin’s Farm, he was accompanied by two men when he rushed another enemy machine gun, capturing eight prisoners and allowing the advance to continue.
After the war he remained in the army and was seconded to the Royal Air Force for a period. In the Second World War he was involved in the D-Day landings.
Ian Balance from the Royal British Legion said that they hope to install a special memorial close to the house where Mr Huffam was born, near to the train station.
They have been arranging a number of events throughout the country to celebrate the efforts of Victoria Cross recipients as part of the World War One centenary.
Dunblane Community Council said they would support the Royal British Legion in their efforts to make the event a success.
Mr Huffam was born in Dunblane on March 31 1897, and was the fourth son of Edward Huffam and Dorothy Roughead.
He died in Middlesex in 1968.