branch death_place death_date birth_place unit awards battles birth_date rank image article_title name
23px british army burnt oak , middlesex 16 february 1968 dunblane , scotland the regiment duke of wellington 's -lrb- west riding -rrb- 30px victoria cross world war i world war ii 31 march 1897 major james palmer huffam vc.jpg james huffam
 james palmer huffam
james huffam

major james palmer huffam vc -lrb- 31 march 1897 -- 16 february 1968 -rrb- was a scottish recipient of the victoria cross , the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to british and commonwealth forces .
he was 21 years old , and a second lieutenant in the 5th battalion , the duke of wellington 's -lrb- west riding -rrb- regiment , british army , attd , 2nd battalion during the first world war .
on 31 august 1918 at st. servin 's farm , france , he performed a deed for which he was awarded the victoria cross .
second lieutenant huffam with three men rushed an enemy machine-gun post and put it out of action .
his position was then heavily attacked and he withdrew , carrying back a wounded comrade .
again in the night , accompanied by two men only he rushed an enemy machine-gun , capturing eight prisoners and enabling the advance to continue .
after world war i he remained in the army and was for a time seconded to the royal air force as a flying officer .
he served in the second world war and achieved the rank of major .
his medal is privately owned and not publicly displayed .
