Rev. William R. F. Addison VC

Restoration of the memorial to Rev. William Robert Fountaine Addison VC

The memorial of Rev William Robert Fountaine Addison VC before restoration One of our restoration projects for 2007 was the memorial commemorating Rev William Robert Fountaine Addison VC (1883-1962), which is located in plot 22. This followed on from our project in 2006 to restore the memorial to Ross Lowis Mangles VC.

Addison was awarded his VC for his bravery on 9 April 1916. At Sanna-i-Yat, Mesopotamia, he carried a wounded man to cover, helped several others and attended to their wounds, all under heavy fire. His fine example and disregard for personal safety encouraged stretcher bearers to go forward under fire to collect the wounded.

Once again the Brookwood Cemetery Society approached Pankhurst Graphic Masonry of West End, Woking, to quote for the restoration of this monument. As can be seen in the picture on the right, the memorial was badly weathered, the foundations to the cross were exposed and in danger of collapse, and the inscription was largely illegible.

The memorial to Rev William Robert Fountaine Addison VC after restoration in 2007 In the autumn of 2007, Pankhurst Graphic Masonry carried out the complete cleaning and repair to the stonework, the inscription panels were cleaned and made completely legible, and the grave space and foundations to the cross were made sound.

The accompanying photographs show the "before" and "after" stages of this work which has left us with another fine monument to a very brave man.

The Society is very grateful for the continuing support and interest of Erkin and Melanie Guney, owners of Brookwood Cemetery, and the staff at Pankhurst Graphic Masonry.

If you would like to make a donation towards our restoration projects, then please contact Margaret Hobbs on 01344 891041, or write to 75 Ranelagh Crescent, Ascot, Berks SL5 8LQ.

Details of other restoration projects may be seen here.

Pankhurst Graphic Masonry may be contacted at Studio Unit 4, Pankhurst Farm, Bagshot Road, West End, Woking, Surrey GU24 9QR, or telephone 01276 855242

Inscription panels on the grave of Rev William Robert Fountaine Addison VC before restoration Inscription panels on the memorial to Rev William Robert Fountaine Addison VC after restoration in 2007