A SPECIAL paving stone to commemorate Salisbury’s only Victoria Cross winner was unveiled on Tuesday at the Guildhall Square War Memorial.

The plaque celebrates the achievements of Lt Col Adlam, who received the Victoria Cross medal for gallantry during the First World War.

It comes as part of a campaign launched by the Department for Communities and Local Government in 2013 to lay stones at the birthplace of every recipient of the Victoria Cross over the four-year period of the centenary of the First World War.

Mayor Derek Brown said: “I think it is a reminder that ordinary people can do extraordinary things.

“Not many people knew who Tom Adlam was, but I hope that after today he will be remembered.”

The Victoria Cross is the British and Commonwealth’s highest award for gallantry and can be awarded to all ranks.

Only 1,355 awards have been given since 1855 and about a third of these were during the First World War.

Lt Col Tom Edwin Adlam VC was born in Salisbury on October 21,1893 and attended St Martin’s Primary School and Bishop Wordsworth’s School.

Adlam joined the Territorial Army in 1912. When war broke out in 1914 he was called up into the Army and posted to India.

After working his way through the ranks he became a sergeant and, when stationed at Quetta, he applied for a commission as he wanted to see active service.

After a course in bombing instruction he joined the 7th Bedfordshire Regiment as a second lieutenant in November 1915.

On the morning of September 28, 1916 Adlam found himself leading an attack on the German held trenches defending Schwaben Redoubt during the Battle of the Somme.

Adlam was awarded the VC by King George V for “most conspicuous bravery”.

In 1922 Adlam helped unveil Salisbury’s war memorial outside the Guildhall. He died on May 28, 1975 aged 81 years old.

His son Clive said: “His proudest moment was when he unveiled the memorial, but the honour today has given me an inkling into how humbled he must have felt at the time.”

The commemorative stone was unveiled by Sarah Troughton, the Lord Lieutenant of Wiltshire, and members of the Adlam family during an event led by the Mayor of Salisbury, Cllr Derek Brown.

The event was followed by a private reception in the Guildhall.