Hugh Colvin

Second Lieutenant, 9th Battalion. The Cheshire Regiment

Register No.: 237 (Alf's numbering, from The Register of the Victoria Cross, 1997)
Rank: Second Lieutenant all Second Lieutenants →
Unit: 9th Battalion. The Cheshire Regiment all Cheshire Regiment VCs →
Date of action: 20 September 1917 on this day → all of 1917 →
Conflict / campaign: First World War
London Gazette: 8th November, 1917 on this day → all of 1917 →
Born: 1st February 1887 at Burnley, Lancashire
Died: 16th September 1962 at Bangor, County Down, Ireland
Memorial / grave: Chester Cathedral

Digest of citation

On 20th September, 1917 east of Ypres, Belgium, when all the other officers of his company and all but one in the leading company had become casualties, Second Lieutenant Colvin took command of both companies and led them forward under heavy fire with great success. He went with only two men to a dug out, when he left the men on top, entered this alone and brought out 14 prisoners. He then proceeded to clear other dug-outs, alone or with only one man, capturing machine guns, killing some of the enemy and taking a large number of prisoners

From Alf Askin's research notes

Reproduced as Alf wrote it, c. 2000–2005. Spelling and abbreviations are his own.

COLVIN, Hugh. (reg No. 237).

Second Lieutenant. 9th Battalion. The Cheshire Regiment.

London Gazetted on 8th November, 1917.

Born on 1st February 1887 at Burnley, Lancashire.

Died on 16th September 1962 at Bangor, County Down, Ireland.

Memorial at Chester Cathedral.

Digest of Citation reads: On 20th September, 1917 east of Ypres, Belgium, when all the other officers of his company and all but one in the leading company had become casualties, Second Lieutenant Colvin took command of both companies and led them forward under heavy fire with great success. He went with only two men to a dug out, when he left the men on top, entered this alone and brought out 14 prisoners. He then proceeded to clear other dug-outs, alone or with only one man, capturing machine guns, killing some of the enemy and taking a large number of prisoners.

Additional information: Attained rank of Major

Additional information

Attained rank of Major

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Alf recorded the memorial as: Chester Cathedral

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