Harold John Colley

Rallied men and held the flank until he was fatally wounded.

Harold John Colley was born on 26 May in Birmingham, the son of pattern maker John Colley and Hannah Elizabeth, formerly Hadley. His family lived in Smethwick, where he attended Dudley Road Council School. He entered the jewellery trade and became a silver spinner with J & R Griffin. Outside work, he attended the Baptist church, kept wicket for its cricket team and enjoyed gymnastics and cycling.

Colley enlisted on 1 September 1914, joining the Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry. He initially served as a cyclist and later as a despatch rider. He went to France in 1915 and served on the Western Front. In March 1917 he was wounded while rescuing comrades buried by a mortar explosion under enemy fire. His gallantry brought a certificate of meritorious conduct, and he was mentioned in despatches. He returned to Britain for treatment before serving with the 10th Battalion, Lancashire Fusiliers.

On 4 June 1918, near Beaumont-Hamel, a German bombardment was followed by an infantry attack against the brigade's trenches. When the platoon sergeant and other men were wounded, Colley took two comrades forward and attacked the intruders with grenades. Their resistance helped drive the Germans out. He received the Military Medal and was promoted to acting sergeant.

On 25 August 1918, at Martinpuich, Colley commanded a platoon supporting two forward platoons that had been ordered to hold their position. A powerful enemy counterattack threatened to overwhelm them. Without waiting for orders, he rushed forward and rallied the men. The Germans had already entered the trench, but Colley established and held a defensive flank.

Only three men from the two forward platoons remained unwounded, and Colley himself suffered a dangerous wound. His leadership prevented the enemy from breaking through and helped the defenders drive them off. He died of his wounds that day. The Victoria Cross was awarded posthumously for his courage and tenacity.

Colley was unmarried. He was buried at Mailly Wood Cemetery, Mailly-Maillet, France, in grave II. Q. 4.

Official Victoria Cross citation The London Gazette, Supplement, 22 October 1918, page 12488:

No. 40684 Pte. (A./Sjt.) Harold John Colley, M.M., late Lan. Fus. (Smethwick).

For most conspicuous bravery and initiative when in command of a platoon in support of forward platoons which had been ordered to hold on at all costs.

When the enemy counter-attacked in force, he rushed forward on his own initiative to help the forward line, rallying and controlling the men holding it. The enemy by this time were advancing quickly, and had already obtained a footing in the trench. Sjt. Colley then formed a defensive flank and held it. Out of the two platoons only three men remained unwounded, and he himself was dangerously wounded.

It was entirely due to Sjt. Colley's action that the enemy were prevented from breaking through, and were eventually driven off. His courage and tenacity saved a very critical situation.