Doug Lewis Posted 13 January , 2004 Share Posted 13 January , 2004 Lance-Corporal William Harold Coltman VC DCM & Bar MM & Bar 1/6th Btn North Staffordshire Rgt. I have information on how he earned his VC but does anyone have any more about this incredible man. Regards Doug Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Desmond7 Posted 13 January , 2004 Share Posted 13 January , 2004 How did he stay at that rank? Was he one of those 'great in action, awful in barracks' types? He was undoubtedly a real fighting soldier. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doug Lewis Posted 13 January , 2004 Author Share Posted 13 January , 2004 Desmond. All the information that I have is on how he earned his VC. On 3/4 Oct 1918 during the operations at Mannequin Hill, LCpl Coltman a stretcher-bearer hearing that wounded men had been left behind during the retirement went forward alone in the face of fierce enemy fire. He dressed the mens wounds and on three occassions carried some of them back to safety,he continued to tend the wounded for the following 48 hours. Regards Doug Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
armourersergeant Posted 13 January , 2004 Share Posted 13 January , 2004 Seem to remember that i have a military illustrated article on this man will try and dig it out and e-mail you if i can. Arm. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ttd0 Posted 14 January , 2004 Share Posted 14 January , 2004 I think that I read somewhere that he was decorated with all the medals on the same day, the first time the King had pinned four medals on one person at the same investiture Tim. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul Reed Posted 14 January , 2004 Share Posted 14 January , 2004 Coltman was no "fighting soldier", as such; all his awards were for work as a Stretcher Bearer. He never fired a shot in anger in four years. Personally one of the most deservedly decorated men of the war, in my opinion. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Terry_Reeves Posted 15 January , 2004 Share Posted 15 January , 2004 Whilst it is true that Coltman won his awards for his work as a stretcher bearer, he did serve in a rifle platoon. A man of strong religious conviction - he was a lay preacher - he eventually volunteered to be a stretcher bearer because he felt he would be more useful saving life than taking it. Terry Reeves Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doug Lewis Posted 15 January , 2004 Author Share Posted 15 January , 2004 Thank you all for info. Arm did you get my email address? Regards Doug Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frank_East Posted 15 January , 2004 Share Posted 15 January , 2004 Coltman was born at Rangemore a little village on the outskirts of Burton on Trent and was living within the town when he died in 1974.I would have thought that he probably lived his whole life around the town. At one time he was active in the Army Cadets and carried the rank of Captain.I recollect that in the 1960s there was often articles about him in the Burton Evening Mail regarding his exploits as a stretcher bearer in the Great War.I had the feeling that he was revered in the town and was always referred to as Captain Coltman. I don't know if the Burton Mail is still published.If so, it's archives should have an abundance of material on Coltman for anyone carrying out research. Regards Frank East Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jimmyjames Posted 15 January , 2004 Share Posted 15 January , 2004 Lcpl Coltman's entry in www.victoriacross.co.uk 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). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
armourersergeant Posted 15 January , 2004 Share Posted 15 January , 2004 yes Doug i did, will keep trying to send but connection is bad at moment will try again tonight. Arm. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frank_East Posted 16 January , 2004 Share Posted 16 January , 2004 Apparently Bill Coltman's relatives attended the planting of a tree to his memory at the National Memorial Arboretum in Alrewas last October.The tree stands in the Staffordshire Regiment Grove. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nshighlander Posted 16 January , 2004 Share Posted 16 January , 2004 Hi Any pictures of his medals and who has them? Cheers Dave Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doug Lewis Posted 17 January , 2004 Author Share Posted 17 January , 2004 Dave His VC is on public display at the Staffordshire Regiment Museum. Regards Doug Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doug Lewis Posted 8 February , 2004 Author Share Posted 8 February , 2004 Thought I would post this picture (copy) of Bill Coltman,which I was given this afternoon. Doug Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rugeley Posted 20 August , 2008 Share Posted 20 August , 2008 Hi Forum, Bill Coltman VC's plaque at the National Memorial Arboretum, Alrewas, Staffordshire, U.K. Phred Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GRANVILLE Posted 11 November , 2008 Share Posted 11 November , 2008 Have recently had it brought to my attention that my late Grandfather; Jack Hinks, actually conducted the funeral service of Bill Coltman in 1974. Both Bill & my Grandfather were committed Christians; members of the Brethren Assemblies of the Burton & Derby areas and close friends. I have to say I did not know the man, although my father recalls visiting Bill's home and being shown the remarkable collection of medals won by this truly remarkable yet very modest individual. Researchers may like to know that The Derby Evening Telegraph carried a very informative article on Bill on Saturday November 16th 1991, which would have been his 100th birthday had he still been alive. Dave Upton Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
magumba Posted 19 December , 2008 Share Posted 19 December , 2008 Just a little more info regarding Cpl William Coltman for future reference http://www.burtonmail.co.uk/burtonmail-new...e.asp?id=364648 The book mentioned in the article is available via online retailers,also there is a large memorial 'wall' to Cpl Coltman in Burton town centre adjacent to the main war memorial Best wishes for the festive to all Mag Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted 16 August , 2012 Share Posted 16 August , 2012 I spoke to a man a couple of nights ago who sang in the Burton Church choir, and remembers him sitting in the Church. I believe his medals were given the the North Staffs Regt, and he wore the small replica medals in Church? What would that collection be worth? Mike Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David B Posted 16 August , 2012 Share Posted 16 August , 2012 More money than you or I have Skippy. Probably well over a million quid. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Graham Smith Posted 17 November , 2012 Share Posted 17 November , 2012 Just searching a couple of VC winners and 'google' sent me here (Tax free of course) This link may be of interest to Doug and others as it lists the citations for all medals won by this brave man http://www.victoriacross.org.uk/bbcoltma.htm Sorry to raise an old thread but it may interest some. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
daggers Posted 17 November , 2012 Share Posted 17 November , 2012 Good to see the full account. I was not around when the first posts were made. What a remarkable man. D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sinabhfuil Posted 11 November , 2015 Share Posted 11 November , 2015 Any more on this humane man? What do we know about his childhood and family? (The newspaper link is no longer working, magumba, were there reports of his great-grandson's talk, do you know?) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
madgarry Posted 19 December , 2016 Share Posted 19 December , 2016 Interesting to see some info on William Harold Coltman, who I have just learned today was my 2nd cousin 3x removed. Ime very proud to have a man of such conviction and courage in my family Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steven Broomfield Posted 19 December , 2016 Share Posted 19 December , 2016 2 hours ago, madgarry said: my 2nd cousin 3x removed. Sounds like a homeopathic remedy. Seriously, what is a 2nd cousin 3x removed? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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