Herbert George Columbine
Private, 9th Battalion. Machine-Gun Corps
- Register No.
- 236 (Alf's numbering, from The Register of the Victoria Cross, 1997)
- Rank
- Private all Privates →
- Unit
- 9th Battalion. Machine-Gun Corps (register: Machine Gun Corps) all Machine Gun Corps VCs →
- Date of action
- 22 March 1918 on this day → all of 1918 →
- Conflict / campaign
- First World War
- London Gazette
- 3rd May 1918 on this day → all of 1918 →
- Born
- 28th November 1893 at London
- Died
- 22nd March 1918 at Hervilly Wood, France, Private Columbine
- Award
- Posthumous all posthumous VCs →
From Alf Askin's research notes
Reproduced as Alf wrote it, c. 2000–2005. Spelling and abbreviations are his own.
COLUMBINE, Herbert George. (reg No. 236).
Private 9th Battalion. Machine-Gun Corps.
London Gazetted on 3rd May 1918.
Born on 28th November 1893 at London.
Died on 22nd March 1918 at Hervilly Wood, France, Private Columbine took over command of a gun and kept firing it from 9am to 1pm in an isolated position with no wire in front. During this time wave after wave of the enemy failed to get up to him, but at last with the help of a low-flying aircraft the enemy managed to gain a strong foot-hold in the trench. As the position was now untenable, Private Columbine told the two remaining men to get away, and although he was being bombed on either side, he kept his gun firing, inflicting losses, until he was killed by a bomb which blew up him and his gun.
took over command of a gun and kept firing it from 9am to 1pm
in an isolated position with no wire in front. During this time
wave after wave of the enemy failed to get up to him, but at last
with the help of a low-flying aircraft the enemy managed to gain
a strong foot-hold in the trench. As the position was now untenable,
Private Columbine told the two remaining men to get away, and
although he was being bombed on either side, he kept his gun firing,
inflicting losses, until he was killed by a bomb which blew up
him and his gun.
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