Hugh Colvin

He led two companies and captured dugouts amid intense fire.

Hugh Colvin was born at Burnley on 1 February 1887. He grew up in Lancashire and Cheshire, attended school at Hatherlow and worked as a gardener before joining the 8th Hussars in September 1908. He served in India and reached France in November 1914, taking part in the First World War as an experienced regular soldier.

He rose to sergeant before receiving a commission in the Cheshire Regiment in April 1917. He served with the 9th Battalion and distinguished himself on patrol during the fighting around Messines. On 20 September 1917, during the advance near Hessian Wood in the Ypres salient, casualties removed the other officers around him. Colvin took command of the surviving men and continued the attack.

He personally attacked enemy positions and helped overcome dugouts whose occupants threatened the advance. Moving between the parties under his command, he restored direction to an assault disrupted by the loss of its leaders. His example enabled the men to press on and take prisoners despite the confusion and resistance. King George V presented him with the Victoria Cross in November 1917.

Colvin remained in the army after the war. His duties included physical training and service with the occupation forces on the Rhine. He later returned to India and became a captain. He retired in February 1935, but took civilian recruiting employment in Army uniform as a recruiting officer in 1938. With the local rank of major he worked in recruiting appointments during the Second World War and continued until 1947.

He spent his later life in Northern Ireland. He died at Bangor Hospital on 16 September 1962 and was buried at Carnmoney, Newtownabbey, County Antrim.

Official citation (excerpt)

"The complete success of the attack in this part of the line was mainly due to 2nd Lt. Colvin’s leadership and courage."