James Collis
Gunner, Royal Horse Artillery
- Register No.
- 234 (Alf's numbering, from The Register of the Victoria Cross, 1997)
- Rank
- Gunner all Gunners →
- Unit
- Royal Horse Artillery all Royal Horse Artillery VCs →
- Date of action
- 27 July 1880 on this day → all of 1880 →
- Conflict / campaign
- Second Afghan War
- London Gazette
- 16th May 1881 on this day → all of 1881 →
- Born
- 19th April, 1856 at Cambridge
- Died
- 28th June, 1918 at Battersea, London
- Memorial / grave
- an unmarked grave in Wandsworth Cemetery, London
Digest of citation
On 28th to July 1880 during the retreat from Maiwand to Kandahar*, when the officer commanding the battery was trying to bring in a limber with wounded men under crossfire, Gunner Collis ran forward and drew the enemy's fire on himself, thus taking their attention from the limber
From Alf Askin's research notes
Reproduced as Alf wrote it, c. 2000–2005. Spelling and abbreviations are his own.
COLLIS, James. (reg No. 234)
Gunner Royal Horse Artillery.
London Gazetted on 16th May 1881.
Born on 19th April, 1856 at Cambridge.
Died on 28th June, 1918 at Battersea, London.
Memorial at an unmarked grave in Wandsworth Cemetery, London.
Digest of Citation reads: On 28th to July 1880 during the retreat from Maiwand to Kandahar*, when the officer commanding the battery was trying to bring in a limber with wounded men under crossfire, Gunner Collis ran forward and drew the enemy's fire on himself, thus taking their attention from the limber.
* Afghan war.
Additional information: Gunner Collis had to forfeit his Victoria Cross for committing bigamy. (see Forfeitures Web- page.)
Additional information
Gunner Collis had to forfeit his Victoria Cross for committing bigamy. (see Forfeitures Web- page.)
* Afghan war.
Visit the grave or memorial
Alf recorded the memorial as: an unmarked grave in Wandsworth Cemetery, London
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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