William Coltman

William Harold Coltman, VC, DCM & Bar, MM & Bar (17 November 1891 – 29 June 1974) was an English recipient of the Victoria Cross (VC), the highest award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces. He was the most decorated other rank of the First World War. A conscientious objector, his Christian beliefs prevented him from taking up arms, but as a stretcher bearer he won all his medals without firing a shot.

Early life
Bill Coltman was born at Rangemore, a village on the outskirts of Burton on Trent, in the epicentre of England. He was a deeply religious and committed Christian, a member of the Plymouth Brethren Assemblies of the Burton and Derby area.

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.

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 a retirement, went forward alone in the face of fierce enfilade fire, found the casualties, dressed them and on three successive occasions, carried comrades on his back to safety, thus saving their lives. This very gallant NCO tended the wounded unceasingly for 48 hours.

Distinguished Conduct Medal
The first award of the Distinguished Conduct Medal (DCM) was made for gallantry over a period of days in July 1917. The London Gazette citation reads: Conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty in evacuating wounded from the front line at great personal risk under shell fire. His gallant conduct undoubtedly saved many lives, and he continued throughout the night to search for wounded under shell and machine gun fire, and brought several in. His absolute indifference to danger had a most inspiring effect upon the rest of his men.

The second award of the DCM was made for conduct in September 1918, only a week before his actions that earned him the VC. The citation read: On the 28th September, 1918, near the St. Quentin Canal, near Bellenglise, he dressed and carried many wounded men under heavy artillery fire. During the advance on the following day he still remained at his work without rest or sleep, attending the wounded, taking no heed of either shell or machine-gun fire, and never resting until he was positive that our sector was clear of wounded. He set the highest example of fearlessness and devotion to duty to those with him.
 * Bar to the Distinguished Conduct Medal

Military Medal
The Military Medal (MM) is gazetted when awarded but no citation is given. Coltman was still a private at the time of this award. The award was made for rescuing a wounded officer from no mans land in February 1917. The officer had been commanding a wiring party during a misty night. The mist cleared and the party found themselves under fire, the officer was wounded in the thigh and Private Coltman immediately went out to bring the man in. - The second award of the MM was gazetted in August 1917. This award was for conduct behind the front lines in June 1917 and covered three separate instances of gallantry in a short period in June 1917. On 6 June an ammunition dump was hit by mortar fire causing several casualties, Coltman took responsibility for removing Verey lights from the dump. The following day he took a leading role in tending men injured when the company headquarters was mortared. A little over a week later, a trench tunnel collapsed trapping a number of men. Coltman organised a rescue party to dig the trapped men out.
 * Bar to the Military Medal

Other awards
Prior to any of his decorations Coltman was Mentioned in Despatches for his work and was also awarded the Croix de Guerre by the French Army.

Later life
After the First World War ended Coltman returned to Burton on Trent and took a job as a groundskeeper with the town's Parks Department. During the Second World War he commanded the Burton on Trent Army Cadet Force with the rank of Captain. He retired from his job in 1963 and died 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 grave is maintained by the Victoria Cross Trust who also represent the family in all matters relating to W H Coltman VC. Coltman was a member of the Plymouth Brethren church, who would refuse to recognise such military awards, as they were resulting from conflict and not granted by God, but by man. The Plymouth Brethren church movement is considered to be the stricter side of the Christian Brethren church.

Legacy
His medals, including his Victoria Cross, are on display at the Staffordshire Regiment Museum, at Whittington Barracks, Lichfield, Staffordshire. At the museum there is a replica WWI trench named in honour of Coltman.

There is a road named in honour of Coltman in Tunstall along with other VC recipient John Harold Rhodes and R. J. Mitchell the designer of the Spitfire, all from Staffordshire.