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Harold John Colley

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Harold John Colley Famous memorial Veteran

Birth
Smethwick, Metropolitan Borough of Sandwell, West Midlands, England
Death
25 Aug 1918 (aged 24)
Martinpuich, Departement du Pas-de-Calais, Nord-Pas-de-Calais, France
Burial
Mailly-Maillet, Departement de la Somme, Picardie, France Add to Map
Plot
II.Q.4.
Memorial ID
View Source
World War I Victoria Cross Recipient. Born in Smethwick, England, he served as a Sergeant in the 10th Battalion, Lancashire Fusilliers, British Army. On August 25, 1918, at Martinpuich, France, during a German counter-attack Sergeant Colley's company was holding an advanced position. The forward platoons were ordered to hold on at all costs and Sergeant Colley without orders went to help the forward two platoons. He rallied the men, then formed a defensive flank and held it. Although out of the two platoons only three men remained unwounded and himself seriously wounded, he prevented the enemy from breaking through. He died of his wounds shortly after. For most prestigious gallantry in the face of the enemy, he was posthumously awarded the Victoria Cross on October 18, 1918.
World War I Victoria Cross Recipient. Born in Smethwick, England, he served as a Sergeant in the 10th Battalion, Lancashire Fusilliers, British Army. On August 25, 1918, at Martinpuich, France, during a German counter-attack Sergeant Colley's company was holding an advanced position. The forward platoons were ordered to hold on at all costs and Sergeant Colley without orders went to help the forward two platoons. He rallied the men, then formed a defensive flank and held it. Although out of the two platoons only three men remained unwounded and himself seriously wounded, he prevented the enemy from breaking through. He died of his wounds shortly after. For most prestigious gallantry in the face of the enemy, he was posthumously awarded the Victoria Cross on October 18, 1918.

Bio by: John "J-Cat" Griffith


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  • Maintained by: Find a Grave
  • Added: Nov 16, 2004
  • Find a Grave Memorial ID:
  • Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/9910725/harold_john-colley: accessed ), memorial page for Harold John Colley (26 May 1894–25 Aug 1918), Find a Grave Memorial ID 9910725, citing Mailly Wood Cemetery, Mailly-Maillet, Departement de la Somme, Picardie, France; Maintained by Find a Grave.