William Odgers VC (14 February 1834 – 20 December 1873) was a Royal Navy sailor and a recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces.
Early life Odgers was born in Falmouth, Cornwall, on 14 February 1834.
Victoria Cross Odgers was 26 years old, and a leading seaman in the Royal Navy during the First Taranaki War in New Zealand when the following deed took place for which he was awarded the VC.
On 28 March 1860 at Omata, Leading Seaman Odgers of 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:
This was the first VC won in New Zealand. A few days later, HMS Niger 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 Zealand revisionist historian James Belich.The New Zealand Wars: (1986, Penguin Books, Auckland) However Nigel Prickett embellished the action as a catastrophic defeat for southern insurgents who virtually no casualties Kaipopo Pa.
Later life Odgers later achieved the rank of quartermaster, and was in the Coast Guard Service. He died in Saltash, Cornwall, on 20 December 1873, having been innkeeper at the Union Inn since 1868.
His medal is displayed at Sheesh Mahal Museum, Patiala, India.Medal location
See also
List of New Zealand Wars Victoria Cross recipients
References
External links Location of grave and VC medal (Cornwall) William Odgers and Family