Harold John Colley

Harold John Colley VC MM (26 May 1895[1] – 25 August 1918) 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 born at 60 Winson Street in Birmingham.[1] The family moved to Smethwick sometime prior to the 1911 Census, where they can be found at 74 Cheshire Road in Smethwick, England. This was his home address during the First World War.[2]

Harold John Colley
Born(1895-05-26)26 May 1895
Birmingham, Warwickshire, England
Died25 August 1918(1918-08-25) (aged 23)
Martinpuich, France
Buried
Mailly Wood Cemetery, Mailly-Maillet
Allegiance United Kingdom
Service/branch British Army
RankSerjeant
UnitDuke of Cornwall's Light Infantry
The Lancashire Fusiliers
Battles/warsWorld War I
Awards Victoria Cross
Military Medal

Colley was 24 years old, and an acting sergeant in the 10th Battalion, The Lancashire Fusiliers,[3] British Army during the First World War when the following deed took place for which he was awarded the VC.

On 25 August 1918 at Martinpuich, France, during a strong counter-attack Sergeant Colley's company was holding an advanced position with two platoons in advance and two in support. The forward platoons were ordered to hold on at all costs and Sergeant Colley went, without orders, to help these 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 the sergeant himself was dangerously wounded and died the same day. It was entirely due to his action that the enemy was prevented from breaking through.[4][5]

His Victoria Cross is displayed at the Fusilier Museum, Bury, Lancashire. On 25 August 2018, the centenary of his death, a commemorative paving stone in his honour was unveiled in Smethwick. Colley is also the subject of a bronze memorial plaque in the vestibule of Smethwick Council House,[6] as well as being included in the list of names on the memorials at Bearwood Baptist Church and St. Mary's Church - both in Bearwood.

References
  1. Birth Certificate at Birmingham Register Office
  2. "Sgt. Harold John Colley VC MM British Army 10th Btn. Lancashire Fusiliers". www.wartimememoriesproject.com. The Wartime Memories Project. Retrieved 5 April 2018.
  3. "10th Bn, XX The Lancashire Fusiliers 1915 to 1919". Lancashire Fusiliers. Retrieved 16 June 2018.
  4. "No. 30967". The London Gazette (Supplement). 18 October 1918. p. 12488.
  5. CWGC entry
  6. "War Memorials Onlne".
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