William Harold Coltman

Infobox Military Person
name= William Harold Coltman


caption=
born= November 17, 1891
died= June 29, 1974
placeofbirth= Tatenhill Common, Burton upon Trent
placeofdeath= Outwoods Hospital, Burton
placeofburial=
placeofburial_label=
nickname=
allegiance= UK
branch= army|UK
serviceyears=
rank= Captain
unit= The North Staffordshire Regiment (The Prince of Wales's)
commands= Burton Army Cadet Force
battles= World War I
World War II
awards= Victoria Cross
Distinguished Conduct Medal & Bar
Military Medal & Bar
Mentioned in Despatches
Croix de Guerre (France)
relations=
laterwork=

William Harold Coltman VC, DCM & Bar, MM & Bar, (November 17, 1891 - June 29, 1974) was an English recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces. He was the most decorated NCO of the First World War, but as a stretcher bearer won all his medals without firing a shot.

Victoria Cross

He was 26 years old, and a lance corporal in the 1/6th Battalion, The North Staffordshire Regiment (The Prince of Wales's), British Army during the First World War when the following deed took place in France for which he was awarded the VC.

Citation

"For most conspicuous bravery, initiative and devotion to duty. During the operations at Mannequin Hill, north-east of Sequehart, on the 3rd and 4th of Oct. 1918, L.-Corp. 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, thus saving their lives. This very gallant NCO and tended the wounded unceasingly for 48 hours." [ [http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=11077194 Find a Grave - Corp William Harold Coltman] ]

Distinguished Conduct Medal

241028 L./Cpl. W. H. Coltman, N. Staff. R.

Citation

"Conspicuous gallantry and devotion to
duty in evacuating wounded from the frontline at great personal risk under shell fire.His gallant conduct undoubtedly saved manylives, and he continued throughout the nightto search for wounded under shell andmachine gun fire, and brought several in.His absolute indifference to danger had amost inspiring effect upon the rest of his men."

= Bar to the Distinguished Conduct Medal =

241028 Pte. (L./Cpl.) W. H. Coltman, V.C.,
D.C.M., M.M., 1/6th Bn., N. Staff. R., T.P. (Repton).

Citation

"On the 28th September, 1918, near the St.Quentin Canal, near Bellenglise, he dressedand carried many wounded men under heavyartillery fire. During the advance on thefollowing day he still remained at his workwithout rest or sleep, attending the wounded,taking no heed of either shell or machine-gunfire, and never resting until he was positivethat our sector was clear of wounded. Heset the highest example of fearlessness and
devotion to duty to those with him.(D.C.M. gazetted 25th August, 1917.)"

Military Medal

3585 Pte. W. H. Coltman, N. Staff. R.

The Military Medal is gazetted when awarded but no citation is given.

= Bar to the Military Medal =

241028 L./C. W. H. Coltman, N. Staff. R.(frmly. 3585).(M.M. gazetted 26th March, 1917.)

The Bar to the Military Medal is gazetted when awarded but no citation is given.

Later life

After the First World War ended Coltman returned to Burton on Trent and took a job as a groundskeeper with the city's Parks Department. During World War II he was commissioned a Captain and commanded the Burton on Trent Army Cadet Force. He retired from his job in 1963 and passed away at Outwoods Hospital, Burton on Trent, in 1974 at the age of 82. He lies buried with his wife Eleanor in the churchyard of St Mark's parish church in Winshill.

His medals, including his Victoria Cross, are on display at the [http://x.staffordshireregimentmuseum.com/index.php Staffordshire Regiment Museum] , Whittington Barracks, Lichfield, Staffordshire, England

References

;Notes

;Bibliography
* Monuments to Courage (David Harvey, 1999)
* The Register of the Victoria Cross (This England, 1997)
* VCs of the First World War - The Final Days 1918 (Gerald Gliddon, 2000)

External links

* [http://www.homeusers.prestel.co.uk/stewart/stafford.htm Location of grave and VC medal] "(Staffordshire)"
* [http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=11077194 Find-A-Grave profile for William Harold Coltman]