James Collis

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James Collis
April 19, 1856(1856-04-19) – June 28, 1918 (aged 62)

Place of birth Cambridge, Cambridgeshire, England
Place of death Battersea, London, England
Allegiance British Army
Awards Victoria Cross (forfeited and re-listed)

James Collis VC (19 April 1856 - 28 June 1918) was an English recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces.

Contents

[edit] Details

Collis was a 24 year old Gunner in the Royal Horse Artillery, British Army, during the Second Afghan War.

[edit] Action

On 28 July 1880, during the retreat from Maiwand to Kandahar in Afghanistan, when the officer commanding the battery was trying to bring in a limber with wounded men under cross-fire, Gunner Collis ran forward and drew the enemy's fire on himself, thus taking their attention from the limber. He was awarded the Victoria Cross for this action.

[edit] Citation

For conspicuous bravery during the retreat from Maiwand to Kandahar when the officer commanding the battery was endeavouring to bring in a limber with wounded men under a cross-fire, in running forward and drawing the enemy's fire on himself, thus taking off their attention from the limber.

[edit] Further information

Collis was one of eight men whose VCs were forfeited. He was stripped of the medal on 18 November 1895 after being convicted of bigamy. [1]

He was born in Cambridge on 19 April 1856. He died in Battersea on 28 June 1918.

[edit] References

  1. ^ COLLIS

[edit] External links