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Regiment: Hampshire Regt. / RFC.
Died: 17 January 1916 aged 25 in Belgium. Killed in action flying in Flanders.
Cemetery: Tyne Cot Memorial LXII C 5
Son of Hugh Davison Wadham and Mabel Emily Wadham, Thamesfield, Shepperton. b. 1891.
Upper IV B—Army II. House Prefect. 5th Batt. K.R.R.C. 1911; Royal Flying Corps 1912; Hampshire Regt. 1914.
Great War, Captain R.F.C. Killed in action January 17, 1916. Despatches.
15th Sqdn. Royal Flying Corps and 1st Bn. Hampshire Regiment.
One of the 34 Pilots who flew from Salisbury Plain to France on 12th Aug., 1914; attached, at that time, to the 3rd Sqdn.
'Vivian Wadham at School was exactly the boy qualified for a flight officer, if the R.F.C. had then existed. He was an excellent Rugby half-back in the first year of the game here, when every player was a law unto himself. He was never known to save himself at another's expense, and was far more ready to pay in his own person for another's faults. He was prepared for the Army, but for a time followed other pursuits, perhaps influenced by the neighbourhood of Brooklands. He entered the R.F.C. in 1912; his success came immediately, and he was the first Malvern boy to distinguish himself in air fighting. Many daring flights were credited to him in 1914, one of which led to his mention in despatches, January 1915. Then he had the fall which was said to have crippled him. But his vitality triumphed, and he lived to do more good service, and at last to give his own life, when he was killed in action over the German lines.' (Malvernian, Mar 1916).
He was brought down in BE2c nr.2105 near Passendale, probably by Warrant Officer Krause and Leutnant von Lersner of Kagohl 1.
He was killed, and his observer, Sergeant Piper was taken prisoner. Further details including photo of his crashed plane at greatwarforum