James Collis
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James Collis (19 April 1856 - 28 June 1918) was an English recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces.
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[edit] Details
Collis was a 24 year old Gunner in the Royal Horse Artillery, British Army, during the Second Afghan War.
On 28 July 1880, during the retreat from Maiwand to Kandahar in Afghanistan, when the officer commanding the battery was trying to bring in a limber with wounded men under cross-fire, Gunner Collis ran forward and drew the enemy's fire on himself, thus taking their attention from the limber. He was awarded the Victoria Cross for this action.
[edit] Citation
- For conspicuous bravery during the retreat from Maiwand to Kandahar when the officer commanding the battery was endeavouring to bring in a limber with wounded men under a cross-fire, in running forward and drawing the enemy's fire on himself, thus taking off their attention from the limber.
[edit] Further information
Collis was one of eight men whose VCs were forfeited. He was stripped of the medal on 18 November 1895 after being convicted of bigamy. [1]
He was born in Cambridge on 19 April 1856. He died in Battersea on 28 June 1918.
[edit] The medal
Please update if you know where his medal is publicly displayed.
[edit] External links
- Location of grave and VC medal (S.W. London)
- Gunner James Colliss
- News Item (biography & re-burial details)
This page has been migrated from the Victoria Cross Reference with permission.
