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.

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[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.

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