James Leslie ODDY

DE RUVIGNY'S ROLL OF HONOUR 1914-1918 – Part Five

ODDY, JAMES LESLIE, Capt., 1/6th (Territorial) Battn. The Prince of Wales’s Own (West Yorkshire Regt.), only s. of Sir John James Oddy, of The Old Hall, Ilkley, formerly M.P. for Pudsey Division, and recently Chairman of the Bradford and Shipley Conservative and Unionist Association, by his wife, Marion, dau. of John Ambler, of Bradford: b. Birkenshaw, Bradford, co. York, 6 June 1894; educ. At Roscoe’s School, Harrogate, and Repton; he was in his father’s firm (James Oddy Junr., Worsted Manufacturers, Birkenshaw); obtained a commission as Lieut. In the Territorial Force 10 June 1912; was promoted Capt. in July, 1915; served with the Expeditionary Force in France and Flanders from the following April; took part in many engagements, including the Battle of the Somme 1 July, 1916; was twice wounded and invalided home, and died 3 Sept. 1916, from wounds received in action. Buried at Warloy-Baillon, Albert. Lieut.-Colonel Hudson wrote: “May I be allowed as his commanding officer to say that we all had the highest respect and love for him? He was hit by a shell just as he was moving out with his company, preparatory to taking his part in a big operation. His loyalty and devotion to duty were truly wonderful, and he again and again, after being wounded, apologized to me for being prevented from taking his part in what he knew lay before us. Our medical officer did all that could be done for him, and we were able to get him quickly into a motor ambulance. I saw him for the last time as he was placed in the motor and spoke to him. Always unselfish, he did not even think of himself, but shook my hand and wished us luck. Out here we quickly learn a man’s worth, and we knew then that we had lost one whom we could ill spare.” Unm.

HISTORY OF THE 6TH BATTALION WEST YORKSHIRE REGIMENT, Vol. 1. 1/6th Battalion by Capt. E.V. Tempest D.S.O., M.C.

THIEPVAL

…. On the afternoon of July 3rd [1916] the Battalion marched back from Aveluy Wood to Martinsart, and were billeted in deserted houses….At this time Captain J. L. Oddy was in command of A Company, pluckily endeavouring to carry on notwithstanding some shrapnel in his thigh. He was ordered to hospital before the Battalion left Martinsart….

To return to the morning of July 9th, when the Battalion moved via Campbell Avenue and a shallow newly-dug trench across No Man’s Land, into the Leipzig Salient. The men were in fighting order, without packs, which were brought up a few days later by a carrying party of the 1/7th Battalion West Yorks. Regt. One of these packs (belonging to Capt. J. L. Oddy) contained 2,500 fcs. for C Coy. As Capt. Oddy had gone to hospital wounded, there was great excitement at his Company Head Quarters regarding the said 2,500 fcs. However, the pack was eventually found on a front line parapet, having lain there untouched for two days!...

On the night of August 29th there had been unusually heavy working parties, one of which consisted in the placing of ladders in the second parallel in order to help men to get out quickly from the very deep and narrow front line trenches immediately before zero. The attack was arranged to take place on August 31st. On the 30th August however, zero day was postponed, and the Battalion ordered to move to trenches in Aveluy Wood. This move was also cancelled within a few hours of receiving it, and the 31st was spent in the usual fatigues. On September 2nd the Battalion moved to Aveluy Wood, having received orders to be clear of North Bluff by 3 p.m. Heavy shelling began at 2-30 p.m. along the Bluff and Authuille Bridge (Black Horse Road). There were several casualties, Capt. J. L. Oddy being killed and three N.C.O.’s wounded. The loss of Capt. Oddy was serious. He was one of the very finest types of British officer, courteous, cheerful and fearless. He had returned to the Battalion before he was physically fit to do so after his wound early in July. He may be singled out as typical of a great number of Officers and men who sacrificed themselves continually, without the faintest hope of reward, in clear response to idealism which too many men affected to despise….

England & Wales, National Probate Calendar (Index of Wills and Administrations), 1858-1966

1921

ODDY sir John James of the Hall Ilkley Yorkshire knight died 20 February 1921 Probate Wakefield 16 April to dame Marion Oddy widow and George Gilbert Thompson solicitor. Effects £38636 8s. 1d.

1932

ODDY dame Marion of 9m Hyde Park Mansions Marylebone-road Middlesex widow died 17 August 1932 at the Pines Rowledge near Farnham Surrey Probate London 30 September to Mary Eileen Oddy spinster. Effects £4366 15s. 5d.