William Harold Coltman
Encyclopedia
William Harold Coltman VC
, DCM
& Bar
, MM
& Bar
(17 November 1891 – 29 June 1974) was an English recipient of the Victoria Cross
(VC), the highest award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth
forces. He was the most decorated other rank
of the First World War, but as a stretcher bearer won all his medals without firing a shot.
in the 1/6th Battalion, The North Staffordshire Regiment (The Prince of Wales's), British Army
during the First World War when the following deed took place in France for which he was awarded the VC.
(DCM) was made for gallantry over a period of days in July 1917. The London Gazette citation reads:
Bar to the Distinguished Conduct Medal
The second award of the DCM was made for conduct in September 1918, only a week before his actions that earned him the VC. The citation read:
(MM) is gazetted when awarded but no citation is given. Coltman was still a private at the time of this award. The award was made for rescuing a wounded officer from no mans land in February 1917.
Bar to the Military Medal
The second award of the MM was gazetted in August 1917. This award was for conduct behind the front lines in June 1917.
by the French Army.
with the rank of Captain. He retired from his job in 1963 and died at Outwoods
Hospital, Burton on Trent, in 1974 at the age of 82. He lies buried with his wife Eleanor in the churchyard of St Mark's
parish church in Winshill
.
, Staffordshire, England.
There is a road named in honour of Coltman at in Tunstall
along with other VC recipient John Rhodes and R. J. Mitchell
the inventor of the Spitfire
, all 3 from Stoke on Trent.
Victoria Cross
The Victoria Cross is the highest military decoration awarded for valour "in the face of the enemy" to members of the armed forces of various Commonwealth countries, and previous British Empire territories....
, DCM
Distinguished Conduct Medal
The Distinguished Conduct Medal was an extremely high level award for bravery. It was a second level military decoration awarded to other ranks of the British Army and formerly also to non-commissioned personnel of other Commonwealth countries.The medal was instituted in 1854, during the Crimean...
& Bar
Medal bar
A medal bar or medal clasp is a thin metal bar attached to the ribbon of a military decoration, civil decoration, or other medal. It is most commonly used to indicate the campaign or operation the recipient received the award for, and multiple bars on the same medal are used to indicate that the...
, MM
Military Medal
The Military Medal was a military decoration awarded to personnel of the British Army and other services, and formerly also to personnel of other Commonwealth countries, below commissioned rank, for bravery in battle on land....
& Bar
Medal bar
A medal bar or medal clasp is a thin metal bar attached to the ribbon of a military decoration, civil decoration, or other medal. It is most commonly used to indicate the campaign or operation the recipient received the award for, and multiple bars on the same medal are used to indicate that the...
(17 November 1891 – 29 June 1974) was an English recipient of the Victoria Cross
Victoria Cross
The Victoria Cross is the highest military decoration awarded for valour "in the face of the enemy" to members of the armed forces of various Commonwealth countries, and previous British Empire territories....
(VC), the highest award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth
Commonwealth of Nations
The Commonwealth of Nations, normally referred to as the Commonwealth and formerly known as the British Commonwealth, is an intergovernmental organisation of fifty-four independent member states...
forces. He was the most decorated other rank
Other Ranks
Other Ranks in the British Army, Royal Marines and Royal Air Force are those personnel who are not commissioned officers. In the Royal Navy, these personnel are called ratings...
of the First World War, but as a stretcher bearer won all his medals without firing a shot.
Victoria Cross
He was 26 years old, and a lance corporalLance Corporal
Lance corporal is a military rank, used by many armed forces worldwide, and also by some police forces and other uniformed organizations. It is below the rank of corporal, and is typically the lowest non-commissioned officer, usually equivalent to the NATO Rank Grade OR-3.- Etymology :The presumed...
in the 1/6th Battalion, The North Staffordshire Regiment (The Prince of Wales's), British Army
British Army
The British Army is the land warfare branch of Her Majesty's Armed Forces in the United Kingdom. It came into being with the unification of the Kingdom of England and Scotland into the Kingdom of Great Britain in 1707. The new British Army incorporated Regiments that had already existed in England...
during the First World War when the following deed took place in France for which he was awarded the VC.
For most conspicuous bravery, initiative and devotion to duty. During the operationsMilitary operationMilitary operation is the coordinated military actions of a state in response to a developing situation. These actions are designed as a military plan to resolve the situation in the state's favor. Operations may be of combat or non-combat types, and are referred to by a code name for the purpose...
at Mannequin Hill, north-east of SequehartSequehartSequehart is a commune in the Aisne department in Picardy in northern France....
, on the 3rd and 4th of Oct. 1918, L.-Corp. Coltman, a stretcher bearer, hearing that wounded had been left behind during a retirementWithdrawal (military)A withdrawal is a type of military operation, generally meaning retreating forces back while maintaining contact with the enemy. A withdrawal may be undertaken as part of a general retreat, to consolidate forces, to occupy ground that is more easily defended, or to lead the enemy into an ambush...
, went forward alone in the face of fierce enfilade fire, found the casualties, dressed them and on three successive occasions, carried comrades on his back to safety, thus saving their lives. This very gallant NCONon-commissioned officerA non-commissioned officer , called a sub-officer in some countries, is a military officer who has not been given a commission...
tended the wounded unceasingly for 48 hours.
Distinguished Conduct Medal
The first award of the Distinguished Conduct MedalDistinguished Conduct Medal
The Distinguished Conduct Medal was an extremely high level award for bravery. It was a second level military decoration awarded to other ranks of the British Army and formerly also to non-commissioned personnel of other Commonwealth countries.The medal was instituted in 1854, during the Crimean...
(DCM) was made for gallantry over a period of days in July 1917. The London Gazette citation reads:
Conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty in evacuating wounded from the front line at great personal risk under shell fire. His gallant conduct undoubtedly saved many lives, and he continued throughout the night to search for wounded under shell and machine gun fire, and brought several in. His absolute indifference to danger had a most inspiring effect upon the rest of his men.
Bar to the Distinguished Conduct Medal
The second award of the DCM was made for conduct in September 1918, only a week before his actions that earned him the VC. The citation read:
On the 28th September, 1918, near the St.
Quentin Canal, near BellengliseBellengliseBellenglise is a commune in the department of Aisne in Picardy in northern France.-Geography:The village lies close to the N44, in a loop of the St Quentin Canal, nine kilometres north of St. Quentin.-History:...
, he dressedDressing (medical)A dressing is an adjunct used by a person for application to a wound to promote healing and/or prevent further harm. A dressing is designed to be in direct contact with the wound, which makes it different from a bandage, which is primarily used to hold a dressing in place...
and carried many wounded men under heavy artillery fire. During the advance on the following day he still remained at his work without rest or sleep, attending the wounded, taking no heed of either shell or machine-gun fire, and never resting until he was positive that our sector was clear of wounded. He set the highest example of fearlessness and devotion to duty to those with him.
Military Medal
The Military MedalMilitary Medal
The Military Medal was a military decoration awarded to personnel of the British Army and other services, and formerly also to personnel of other Commonwealth countries, below commissioned rank, for bravery in battle on land....
(MM) is gazetted when awarded but no citation is given. Coltman was still a private at the time of this award. The award was made for rescuing a wounded officer from no mans land in February 1917.
Bar to the Military Medal
The second award of the MM was gazetted in August 1917. This award was for conduct behind the front lines in June 1917.
Other awards
Prior to any of his decorations Coltman was Mentioned in Despatches for his work and was also awarded the Croix de GuerreCroix de guerre
The Croix de guerre is a military decoration of France. It was first created in 1915 and consists of a square-cross medal on two crossed swords, hanging from a ribbon with various degree pins. The decoration was awarded during World War I, again in World War II, and in other conflicts...
by the French Army.
Later life
After the First World War ended Coltman returned to Burton on Trent and took a job as a groundskeeper with the town's Parks Department. During the Second World War he commanded the Burton on Trent Army Cadet ForceArmy Cadet Force
The Army Cadet Force is a British youth organisation that offers progressive training in a multitude of the subjects from military training to adventurous training and first aid, at the same time as promoting achievement, discipline, and good citizenship, to boys and girls aged 12 to 18 and 9...
with the rank of Captain. He retired from his job in 1963 and died at Outwoods
Outwoods, East Staffordshire
Outwoods is a civil parish in the English county of Staffordshire. Once a village it is now a suburb on the flanks of the town of Burton upon Trent separated from the town by the A38 road.-Geography:...
Hospital, Burton on Trent, in 1974 at the age of 82. He lies buried with his wife Eleanor in the churchyard of St Mark's
St Mark's, Winshill
St Mark's is the Church of England parish church for the Burton upon Trent suburb of Winshill, east of the town. It is part of the Diocese of Derby....
parish church in Winshill
Winshill
Winshill is a suburb to the east of the town of Burton upon Trent, in the borough of East Staffordshire, England.Flanked to the north and east by the South Derbyshire border, historically the parish of Winshill had always been part of Derbyshire until it was transferred to Staffordshire in the late...
.
Legacy
His medals, including his Victoria Cross, are on display at the Staffordshire Regiment Museum, Whittington Barracks, LichfieldLichfield
Lichfield is a cathedral city, civil parish and district in Staffordshire, England. One of eight civil parishes with city status in England, Lichfield is situated roughly north of Birmingham...
, Staffordshire, England.
There is a road named in honour of Coltman at in Tunstall
Tunstall
-Place names:United Kingdom*Tunstall, East Riding of Yorkshire*Tunstall, Kent*Tunstall, Lancashire*Tunstall, Norfolk, in the parish of Halvergate*Tunstall, North Yorkshire*Tunstall, Stafford, near to Eccleshall...
along with other VC recipient John Rhodes and R. J. Mitchell
R. J. Mitchell
Reginald Joseph Mitchell CBE, FRAeS, was an aeronautical engineer, best known for his design of the Supermarine Spitfire.-Early years:...
the inventor of the Spitfire
Supermarine Spitfire
The Supermarine Spitfire is a British single-seat fighter aircraft that was used by the Royal Air Force and many other Allied countries throughout the Second World War. The Spitfire continued to be used as a front line fighter and in secondary roles into the 1950s...
, all 3 from Stoke on Trent.