William Harold Coltman
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William Harold Coltman VC, DCM and Bar, MM and Bar, (born Tatenhill Common, Burton upon Trent, November 17, 1891 - June 29, 1974) was an English recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces. He was the most decorated NCO of the First World War.
He was 26 years old, and a lance-corporal 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 for which he was awarded the VC.
On 3/4 October 1918 during the operations at Mannequin Hill, north-east of Sequehart, France, Lance-Corporal Coltman, a stretcher-bearer, hearing that wounded had been left behind during the retirement, went forward alone in the face of fierce enfilade fire, found the casualties, dressed their wounds and on three successive occasions, carried some of them on his back to safety. This very gallant NCO tended the wounded unceasingly for 48 hours.
After the war Coltman returned to Burton-on-Trent and took a job as a groundskeeper with the city's Parks Department. During World War II he was commissioned a Captain and commanded the Burton Army Cadet Force. He retired from his job in 1963 and passed away at Outwoods Hospital, Burton, at the age of 82.
His medals, including his Victoria Cross, are on display at the Staffordshire Regiment Museum, Lichfield, Staffordshire, England
[edit] References
- Monuments to Courage (David Harvey, 1999)
- The Register of the Victoria Cross (This England, 1997)
- VCs of the First World War - The Final Days 1918 (Gerald Gliddon, 2000)
