William Harold Coltman
Lance-Corporal, 1st/6th Battalion. The North Staffordshire Regiment
- Register No.
- 235 (Alf's numbering, from The Register of the Victoria Cross, 1997)
- Rank
- Lance-Corporal (register: Lance Corporal) all Lance-Corporals →
- Unit
- 1st/6th Battalion. The North Staffordshire Regiment (register: Prince of Wales's (North Staffordshire Regiment)) all Prince of Wales's (North Staffordshire Regiment) VCs →
- Date of action
- 3–4 October 1918 on this day → all of 1918 →
- Conflict / campaign
- First World War
- London Gazette
- 6th January 1919 on this day → all of 1919 →
- Born
- 17th November 1891 at Rangemore, Staffordshire
- Died
- 29th June 1974 at Burton-on-Trent, Staffordshire
- Memorial / grave
- The Garrison Church, Whittington Barracks, Lichfield, Staffs., and in the town park of Burton-on-Trent
Digest of citation
On 3rd/4th of October 1918 at Mannequin Hill, north-east of Sequehart, France, Lance-Corporal Coltman, a stretcher bearer, hearing that wounded had been left behind during the retirement, went forward alone in the face of fierce enfilade fire, found the casualties, dressed their wounds and on three successive occasions, carried some of them on his back to safety this very gallant NCO and tended the wounded unceasingly for 48 hours
From Alf Askin's research notes
Reproduced as Alf wrote it, c. 2000–2005. Spelling and abbreviations are his own.
COLTMAN, William Harold. (reg No. 235).
Lance-Corporal 1st/6th Battalion. The North Staffordshire Regiment. (The Prince of Wales's).
London Gazetted on 6th January 1919.
Born on 17th November 1891 at Rangemore, Staffordshire.
Died on 29th June 1974 at Burton-on-Trent, Staffordshire.
Memorials at The Garrison Church, Whittington Barracks, Lichfield, Staffs., and in the town park of Burton-on-Trent.
Digest of Citation reads: On 3rd/4th of October 1918 at Mannequin Hill, north-east of Sequehart, France, Lance-Corporal Coltman, a stretcher bearer, hearing that wounded had been left behind during the retirement, went forward alone in the face of fierce enfilade fire, found the casualties, dressed their wounds and on three successive occasions, carried some of them on his back to safety this very gallant NCO and tended the wounded unceasingly for 48 hours.
Additional information: Lance-Corporal Coltman was the most decorated non-commissioned officer in World War One. As well as the Victoria Cross he held the Distinguished Conduct Medal (DCM) and Bar and also the Military Medal (MM) and Bar. He was commissioned a as an officer in the Burton Army Cadet Force for the period 1939-5 (World War Two).
Additional information
Lance-Corporal Coltman was the most decorated non-commissioned officer in World War One. As well as the Victoria Cross he held the Distinguished Conduct Medal (DCM) and Bar and also the Military Medal (MM) and Bar. He was commissioned a as an officer in the Burton Army Cadet Force for the period 1939-5 (World War Two).
(The Prince of Wales's).
Visit the grave or memorial
Alf recorded the memorial as: The Garrison Church, Whittington Barracks, Lichfield, Staffs., and in the town park of Burton-on-Trent
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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