James Morris Colquhoun Colvin

Lieutenant, Corps of Royal Engineers

VC
Register No.
238 (Alf's numbering, from The Register of the Victoria Cross, 1997)
Rank
Lieutenant all Lieutenants →
Unit
Corps of Royal Engineers all Corps of Royal Engineers VCs →
Date of action
16 September 1897 on this day → all of 1897 →
Conflict / campaign
Mohmand Campaign
London Gazette
20th May 1898 on this day → all of 1898 →
Born
26th August 1870 at bIJnor, North West Frontier, India
Died
7th December 1945 at Stanway, Colchester, Essex
Memorial / grave
not known

Digest of citation

On the night of 16th/17th September, 1897, in the Mohmand Valley, north-west India, Lieutenant Colvin was with another Lieutenant and burning village of Bilot, to try to dislodge the enemy who were inflicting losses on our troops. When his brother officer had been incapacitated by wounds, Lieutenant Colvin continued the fight and made two more attempts to clear the enemy from the village. He was conspicuous during the whole night for his devotion to his men, in the most exposed positions and under very heavy fire

From Alf Askin's research notes

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

COLVIN, James Morris Colquhoun. (Reg No. 238).

Lieutenant. Corps of Royal Engineers.

London Gazetted on 20th May 1898.

Born on 26th August 1870 at bIJnor, North West Frontier, India.

Died on 7th December 1945 at Stanway, Colchester, Essex.

Memorial not known.

Digest of Citation reads: On the night of 16th/17th September, 1897, in the Mohmand Valley, north-west India, Lieutenant Colvin was with another Lieutenant * who collected a party of volunteers and led them into the dark and burning village of Bilot, to try to dislodge the enemy who were inflicting losses on our troops. When his brother officer had been incapacitated by wounds, Lieutenant Colvin continued the fight and made two more attempts to clear the enemy from the village. He was conspicuous during the whole night for his devotion to his men, in the most exposed positions and under very heavy fire.

* TC Watson (reg No. 1282) and James Smith. (reg No. 1162)

Additional information: Colonel Colvin also served in the South African War 1901-2.

Additional information

Colonel Colvin also served in the South African War 1901-2.

* who collected a party of volunteers and led them into the dark
* TC Watson (reg No. 1282) and James Smith. (reg No. 1162)

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Alf recorded the memorial as: not known

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