Harold John Colley
Sergeant, 10th Battalion. The Lancashire Fusiliers
- Register No.
- 231 (Alf's numbering, from The Register of the Victoria Cross, 1997)
- Rank
- Sergeant (register: Acting Sergeant) all Sergeants →
- Unit
- 10th Battalion. The Lancashire Fusiliers all Lancashire Fusiliers VCs →
- Date of action
- 25 August 1918 on this day → all of 1918 →
- Conflict / campaign
- First World War
- London Gazette
- 22nd October 1918 on this day → all of 1918 →
- Born
- 26th May 1894 at Smethwick, Staffordshire
- Died
- 25th August 1918 at Martinpuich, France. (Died on of wounds)
- Award
- Posthumous all posthumous VCs →
- Memorial / grave
- Mailly Wood Cemetery, France and on the War Memorial, Smethwick, Staffordshire
Digest of citation
On 25th August, 1918 at Martinpuich, France, during a strong counter-attack Sergeant Colley's company was holding an advanced position with two platoons in advance and two in support. The forward platoons were ordered to hold on at all costs and Sergeant Colley went, without orders, to help these two platoons. He rallied the men, then formed a defensive flank and held it, out of the two platoons only three men remained unwounded and the sergeant himself was dangerously wounded and Died on the same day. It was entirely due to his action that the enemy was prevented from breaking through
From Alf Askin's research notes
Reproduced as Alf wrote it, c. 2000–2005. Spelling and abbreviations are his own.
COLLEY, Harold John. (reg No. 231).
Sergeant 10th Battalion. The Lancashire Fusiliers.
London Gazetted on 22nd October 1918.
Born on 26th May 1894 at Smethwick, Staffordshire.
Died on 25th August 1918 at Martinpuich, France. (Died on of wounds).
Memorials at Mailly Wood Cemetery, France and on the War Memorial, Smethwick, Staffordshire.
Digest of Citation reads: On 25th August, 1918 at Martinpuich, France, during a strong counter-attack Sergeant Colley's company was holding an advanced position with two platoons in advance and two in support. The forward platoons were ordered to hold on at all costs and Sergeant Colley went, without orders, to help these two platoons. He rallied the men, then formed a defensive flank and held it, out of the two platoons only three men remained unwounded and the sergeant himself was dangerously wounded and Died on the same day. It was entirely due to his action that the enemy was prevented from breaking through.
Additional information: Sergeant Colley also held the Military Medal (M M)
Additional information
Sergeant Colley also held the Military Medal (M M)
Visit the grave or memorial
Alf recorded the memorial as: Mailly Wood Cemetery, France and on the War Memorial, Smethwick, Staffordshire
Map links open a search for the place name Alf recorded; please check opening times and exact locations before travelling. Many VC graves have since been restored by the Victoria Cross Trust.
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