William Coltman VC - Britain's Version Of Hacksaw Ridge
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- Опубліковано 22 тра 2024
- William Coltman VC - the pacifist awarded the Victoria Cross.
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Videos mentioned in this episode:
Noel Chavasse - Double VC
• Captain Noel Chavasse ...
Arthur Martin-Leake VC & bar
• The First Man To Be Aw...
Theodore Hardy (the VC army chaplain)
• Britain's Most Decorat...
"Woodbine Willie" (Geoffrey Studdert Kennedy)
• Who was Woodbine Willie?
William Coltman, from Burton on Trent, Staffordshire had volunteered to join the army in the opening months of the war (joining his local regiment - the North Staffordshires).
However, the 23-year old, who was a deeply religious member of the Plymouth Brethren, realised that he couldn't take another life and so he requested to become a stretcher bearer.
In many ways, his story has some similarities to Desmond Doss in the film Hacksaw Ridge.
Through the rest of WW1 he risked his life countless times going out into no mans land to rescue wounded soldiers.
His bravery wasn’t just rewarded with the Victoria Cross but 2 Distinguished Conduct Medals and 2 Military Medals as well…which is a highly impressive record for a deeply religious pacifist.
Standing at 5 feet, 4 inches he only just made the height requirement to join the army (many smaller men were turned away but eventually were recruited by MP, Alfred Bigland, to form a battalion of their own, the Bantam Battalions - also known as Bigland's Bantams).
He ended the war as Britain's most highly decorated "other rank" soldier and was part of the honour guard at the burial of the Unknown Warrior at Westminster Abbey in 1920.
William Coltman returned to his hometown of Burton on Trent, where he worked in the local council's Parks Department until his retirement in 1963.
He died in 1974.
William Coltman is buried at St. Mary's church, Winshill, just outside Burton.
His medals are on display at the Staffordshire Regiment Museum, Lichfield.
At the museum there is a replica First World War trench named in William Coltman's honour.
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Other World War 1 videos that you may enjoy:
The Chilwell Munitions Factory Explosion
• The Chilwell Munitions...
Arnold Ridley (Private Godfrey in "Dad's Army") real wartime service:
• Arnold Ridley - Privat...
William Coltman VC, DCM & bar, MM & bar
1891: Born, Burton-on-Trent, Staffordshire, England
1911: Recorded as farm servant in census
1913: Married Eleanor May Dolman
Jan 1915: Volunteers for 6th battalion, North Staffordshire Regiment
July 1916: Mentioned in Dispatches
Feb 1917: Awarded Military Medal (MM)
July 1917: Awarded Distinguished Conduct Medal (DCM)
Aug 1917: Awarded bar to his MM
Sept 1918: Awarded bar to his DCM
Oct 1918: Awarded Victoria Cross (Britain's highest medal for bravery)
May 1919: Presented with his VC by King George V at Buckingham Palace
Nov 1920: Member of the Guard of Honour at the burial of the Unknown Soldier (Tomb of the Unknown Warrior, Westminster Abbey)
1943: Commissioned as an officer in the Army Cadet Force (ACF).
1948: Wife, Eleanor Died
1963: Retired from Burton-on-Trent Parks department
1974: Died.
Chapters
0:00 Introduction
0:50 William Coltman
1:27 World War 1
2:09 Bantam Battalions
2:21 North Staffordshire Regiment
3:01 Stretcher Bearers
5:28 Medals For Bravery
7:17 Hundred Days Offensive
8:08 Battle of St. Quentin Canal
9:29 William Coltman VC
11:27 Britain's Unknown Warrior
12:45 Burton on Trent
13:26 Death & Legacy
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My name is Chris Green and I love to share stories from British history. Not just because they are interesting but because, good or bad, they have shaped the world we live in today.
History should not be stuffy or a long list of dates or kings & queens.
So rather than lectures or UA-cam animations, I tell stories that bring the past to life.
My aim is to be chat as if I were having a coffee or meal with you. Jean in Maryland, USA recently wrote: "Chris, is the history teacher I wish I had at school!"
Just for the record, I do have a history degree in Medieval & Modern history from the University of Birmingham.
Disclaimer: All opinions and comments expressed in the 'Comments' section do not reflect the opinions of Chris Green Communication Ltd t/a The History Chap. All opinions and comments should contribute to the dialogue. Chris Green Communication Ltd does not condone written attacks, insults, racism, sexism, extremism, violence or otherwise questionable comments or material in the 'Comments' section, and reserves the right to delete any comment violating this rule or to block any poster from the channel.
Yes for the bantams
You get the honour of being vote number 1.
I second this!
I third it.
Only 4.😢
Yes please. I have always been inspired by the story of the Bantams.
Incredible story of absolute courage and compassion by William Coltman. No one can ever say anything negative about any stretcher bearer. I was stunned by the accomplishments of this gardner. Yes to the story you proposed, well done, amigo.😊
Glad you enjoyed it Harry. Good to see you (sort of) on the live show today.
@@TheHistoryChap another great video. william coltman was a very brave man indeed. deserved the victoria cross and all the other medals he was awarded.
To my shame, this is the first time that I had heard of William Coltman VC, DCM and Bar, MM and Bar.
Thank you for educating me about such an outstanding person.
Glad you enjoyed it.
@@TheHistoryChap
I owe you one for this.
Many thanks.
An extraordinary and very moving story. William Coltman deserves a monument, and I mean that. In spite of not being British, I would donate money for it if it ever happens. Having said that, I forgot that a member of the British government proposed to erect a memorial for the "patriotic" Muslims who died "for King and Country". I believe they will get their memorial BEFORE Coltman.
Thanks for watching my video & taking the time to comment.
William Coltman VC was very Brave Man too realize he couldn't kill a fellow human being, but he was still willing to risk his life save others in a time of war.
Totally agree with you. Thanks for watching my video.
Another Brilliant video Chris! This Reminds me of our own Country's pacifist Medal of Honor recipient Desmon Doss from WWII
They share a lot of similarities.
When Religious Fanaticism counts as "Exceptional Bravery" instead of "Utter Stupidity " !
After movies about Alvin York (Sergeant York) and Desmond Doss (Hacksaw Ridge) we need a film about William Coltman.
It would be a good one. I wonder who they would get to play him?
This country really needs heroes right now, heroes who were thoroughly good men, and that's a great suggestion.
@@TheHistoryChapRonnie Corbett being dead perhaps (to secure US film finance) that famous American runt Tom Cruise comes to mind? 😜🤣🤣
Thank you for your continues efforts to bring these stories to peoples attention, stories that have been all to easily forgotten by the younger generations. You bring life to heroes, who truely deserve to be remebered, with such respect and dignity.
Thank you for your kind comment. Much appreciated.
Thanks Chris for bringing these fantastic stories of past British military history to the modern day audience that in other wise be lost in the past.
Straight from the live and into the story of one of my hero's
And YES to the story of the Bantams
Thanks for your support Charlie. Have a great weekend.
Thanks Chris, also to my shame I'd never heard of William Coltman VC, what an amazing British soldier and a true hero worthy of any Spielberg/Hanks movie blockbuster. Thanks for educating us of the life of this great Briton.
Gad you enjoyed it.
A wonderful story well told. The devilish nature of war is often too unbearable to look at . When we see any war through the prism of good men in terrible times, we realise the evil of the cull they have endured. Thank you chap.
Thanks for watching my video & for your comment.
Fantastic. Thanks for uploading, Chris. Incredible story.
Hope you enjoy it.
Never heard of a braver man nor one who showed as much moral courage. Regards
Thanks for watching my video
"Yes". What has always impressed me the most are comrades who put themselves in danger to save the lives of others. And your maps with arrows showing where the story takes place are damn good. Please continue to tell the story of VC recipients. Well done Chris❤👍🤟
Thanks & glad you enjoyed it.
Absolutely inspirational. He demonstrated selfless heroism and bravery - two terms that are grossly overused and misapplied these days. And he did so with an uncommon dash of humility. Thanks for creating and posting this episode.
Thanks for watching & for your feedback
Good morning, Chris, well that was an amazing story. I was covered in goose bumps. I was a medic back in my military days. Not obviously in the UK, I wish I had heard of this amazing man, it may have motivated some of the soldiers who I served with. Being a medic back then was not as glamorous as now. Chris, you have a fantastic ability of telling a riveting story, many thanks.
Glad you enjoyed my video and thanks for your comments.
Yet another excellent documentary!
I noticed later in the video that you mentioned another VC recipient - Bernard Freyberg. A documentary on him may be quite interesting. His military career in the First World War is packed with astoundingly brave feats. He's regarded as a hero in my country, New Zealand.
Thank you!
Thanks for taking the time to comment.
It’s so nice to hear stories of men awarded the VC or highest honor of whatever country they represent, alive rather than posthumously! Thanks for this!
Glad you enjoyed by video
William Coltman was a very brave and dedicated man.
Thanks for watching.
Fantastic video Chris, many thanks for telling the story of this wonderful man. Thanks to you there are over 40,000 people who’ve heard his story.
Thanks, glad you enjoyed t.
Excellent tale Chris ! Spookily, just as you briefly mentioned Arthur Martin Leake I was driving through High Cross on the old A10, his final resting place 😳
Thanks for watching my video and for the interesting comment.
New medics for the Royal Navy, Royal Marines, British Army, and RAF are trained at DMS Whittington near Lichfield; the regimental depot of the North Staffordshire Regiment and the South Staffordshire Regiment. William Coltman VC DCM & Bar MM & Bar enlisted in that very base. It's a momentous thing to walk through those gates knowing he did also.
Next to the base is the museum of the Staffordshire Regiment, wherein there is a reconstruction of a WW1 trench called the Coltman Trench. Not just that but the headquarters of the Surgeon General of the Army (also based at DMS Whittington alongside the Defence Medical Academy) is Coltman House
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What a superb story about another humble man who saw no fear in his brave feats that are astoundingly brave to me yet no doubt this gentleman thought he was just doing his duty for his fellow brave comrades. Thank you for bringing to us another fascinating story of an ordinary man who epitomises and so richly deserves to be called a TRUE LIFE HERO.
Glad you e joyed it and for taking the time to comment.
Thank you, Chris, for this story about a man who was worth looking up to in every sense of the word. Call it sheer good fortune, or the protecting hand of God (and I prefer the latter), he was incredibly fortunate to have done so many heroic deeds and lived - and, like so many other genuine heroes, didn't tell the tale afterwards. To have done any one of the things he did took courage; to have carried on doing them, time after time after time shows bravery beyond belief. Small in stature, yes, but a little man with an incredibly big heart.
I find it interesting that not only he but two of the three men to earn the VC twice were actually medical men, every bit as brave morally as they were physically. In the words of The History Guy, on another channel here, we should remember them. I'll look the two padre's stories up too; Woodbine Willie is still remembered here in Birmingham.
And yes to the bantams story.
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Such a fantastic story of bravery and compassion, so sad that times have changed
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A definite yes on the Bantam video Chris, my Great Uncle Issac Reach served with the 14th Gloucestershire Bantams and died on the first day of the battle of the Somme, so I’ve always had a great interested in these units.
Thanks for watching my video and for taking the time to share your family story.
A reminder of those who we would do well to emulate. Well Told. definitely yes to your proposed story.
Thanks for watching my video .
Love hearing stories of great men. Thanks for the video. Cheers Ron
Ron, I appreciate your support. Have a great weekend.
Very interesting story Chris, thankyou for sharing. And yes, to the "short" battalion.
Glad you enjoyed it and for your reply.
Yes, Chris! Let’s hear more about the ‘Bantams!’ It was indeed also very inspiring & edifying to hear this incredible story of William Coleman, VC, DSC & Bar; MM & Bar & MiD! Hopefully, we will soon have more even more of the same or similar?!!
Glad you enjoyed my video. Re the Bantams - watch this space!
Facinating. Thank you so much for this post.
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Yes, great content as always keep up the good work.
Thanks , pleased you enjoyed my video.
A great presentation thank you
Glad you enjoyed it,
One of your best videos to date.
Glad you enjoyed it.
Thank you Chris, for this very touching story.
My pleasure. Thanks for watching and for taking the time to comment.
Wonderful work yet again, Chris - and a big YES - for the Bantams.
Thanks for watching & glad you enjoyed my video. Thanks for the reply.
What a brave man - splendidly narrated as usual 😊
Glad you enjoyed it.
everybody loves a humble hero. What a great movie this could've been.
Thanks for watching my video, glad you enjoyed it
Great story. Thanks for keeping this legend alive.
My pleasure. I'm glad you enjoyed it. Have a great weekend.
Incredible man. Great story!
Glad you enjoyed it.
Thank you for this video, Chris, your coverage of The Great War is always fair, unbiased and without any of the revisionist distortions that are far too common these days. In answer to your question, yes, please produce a video about the 'bantom' batalions.
Thanks & glad you enjoyed my video
Amazing! Awesome!!
Glad you enjoyed my video
YES
YES
ALL THE YES!!
Love the videos.
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Yes please. Keep up the good work Sir!
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Yes to the Bantams Chris. This is another excellent video of someone who deserves to be known of. How incredibly brave these men were.
Thanks for the reply, glad you enjoyed my video
Thank you, History Guy! 🙏👍
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Yes. Would love to hear it.
Thanks for your reply.
An incredible story. Again, brilliantly told about the bravest of the brave.
Thanks for your support.
Great story, well told. Thank you.
Glad you enjoyed it!
Another Great video.
Glad you enjoyed it
OMG, what an absolute hero if EVER there was one indeed, and you said in your description, Chris old chap, that in many ways, the story of this incredible man William Coltman has some similarities to Desmond Doss in the film Hacksaw Ridge, which I can ABSOLUTELY TOTALLY relate to indeed, WWII and America had Desmond Doss (who Andrew Garfield really does do such an absolutely amazing job at playing in the film concerned), while we Brits and WWI has THIS guy, William Coltman, and his absolutely incredible and totally worthy of being truly called heroic actions on the battlefield, he and Desmond Doss really truly can be compared together in some ways INDEED.
Oh MAN, I've really GOT to get a move on with watching and seeing some of your earlier video topics from the year or so before last year, which is when I first came across your amazing channel on here myself thanks to one of your Dad's Army coverages, and if it hadn't've been for that... you really well and truly know JUST what and how to give British military history topics, battles and particular heroic individuals together when I say that, now if only I can just give mysself the damn time and mood to do and enjoy some more of your earlier videos besides the ones I HAVE seen, haha...
Glad you enjoyed it.
Chris I really enjoyed this story of William Coltman VC. I love to hear more stories of men and weman who served in the army who came from Stoke on trent Staffordshire.
Thanks for joining me on the live call. Drop me an email through my website (www.thehistorychap.com) with any suggestions.
God is no doubt proud of that man, he earned every medal he got!
I’m glad you enjoyed this video Nathan.
Thanks for all of your support
Chris, the answer is ALWAYS yes. You make it, I'll watch it. You have a marvelous voice to go with exacting research.
Thanks for watching my video & thanks for your comment
Amazing video for an amazing man
Glad you enjoyed it. Thanks for watching.
Great picture under the bridge at Burton station!
Thanks for your comment.
I'm not crying 😢 you're crying i got dust in my eyes 👀 what a truly remarkable fellow he was.
Fairly dusty here too right now.
Glad you enjoyed it.
Apologies Chris how did I miss commenting on this one at the time lol What an astonishing story of a truly remarkable man, we use hero too loosely these days. Long may these individuals be remembered
check out my story about the bantam battalions: ua-cam.com/video/IYW2CXvG29Q/v-deo.html
Thank you for doing justice to such an incredibly brave man. Job well done sir.
My pleasure. Thanks for watching
To the best of my knowledge the only member of our family to have been awarded a bravery medal was a great uncle - also a stretcher bearer. I only saw him once, a small man sitting quietly in the stove alcove on a chilly winter's day. A pity that it was only in later years that the horrors of Passchendaele and the attack on Polygon Wood, where he stayed behind from his relieved battalion and went out repeatedly to carry in his mates under horrendous fire, became known to me. The only thing he ever related to the family was of the sheer exhaustion of struggling through the mud.
Thanks for taking the time to watch my video and for sharring hour family story.
Yes !! Brave man Thanks
Thanks for your reply and for watching my video.
Another story I did not know. Excellent to hear of a man of faith. Please tell the Bantams story. Thanks.
Thanks for the comment & for watching my video
John Tandy a British soldier was awarded the MM DCM and VC within the space of 6 weeks each a close fighting engagement with the enemy.
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Yes
Thanks for your vote.
A lovely story!
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That is an easy bicycle ride from Long Eaton.We spent alot of time near there with my brother Ryan in attendance at Trent College.
Thanks for watching my video & for sharing your family story.
Yes definitely to the Bantams. Great videos!
Thank you for watching and for your vote.
Excellent episode. How about a little something different? “The monocled mutineer?”
Glad you enjoyed it, & thanks for your comment.
Thank you for another great and enlightening story. So many wonderful and selfless people we don't know about except for the History Chap :)
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Brilliant piece of historic knowledge!
Thank you.
Glad you enjoyed the video
Yes please 👍
Okay. Let me add to my list.
The term Hero is thrown out today like nothing, but this man was the definition of it, Hollywood needs to make a movie about him and Given - hacksaw ridge - surely Mel Gibson would happily direct.
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What an incredibly brave man. VC, MM & Bar, DCM & Bar.
To my shame, my knowledge of WW1 isn’t as good as WW2, but yes, it would be great to hear a documentary on the Bantams.
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God Bless Him & Them All..
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YES! Definitely!
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Amazing
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Yes, please
Thanks for the reply
Yes for the Bantams ,Billy Butlin holiday park king was a Bantam
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Very good bloke
Thanks for watching my video
Look forward to the video on the "Bantams"
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Already subscribed mate
Yes, yes, yes please
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Let’s hear about the Bantams! Keep up the good work!
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Yes.
Your vote is counted.
Yes!
Thanks for your reply.
Yes, I love to hear it
Here it is:ua-cam.com/video/IYW2CXvG29Q/v-deo.html
Yes. Let's hear about the short kings.
Thanks for watching my video & the comment.
One thing to remember that makes things like this more understandable is that medals are not usually given out for killing lots of people, while that may be something that happens it's done in the course of doing something that saves lives. And there are plenty out there that have been awarded purely for saving lives, or even just a single life.
A classic example would be single handedly charging a machine gun. While at first glance that's "he killed some people" it's actually that machine guns kill a lot of people, and also pin them down so things like artillery kill more, so by doing so he saved many lives.
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Yes, for the Bantam story...
Will do. Watch this space.
Just like a certain C.O. winning the Medal of Honor 30 years later.
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Great video and great story
Glad you enjoyed it
Desmond Doss, who was a conscientious objector, won the Medal of Honor on Okinawa. Good armies love good men.
Bantams? Of course, guys like Phil Sheridan have been making history forever. There was a squad in the Big Red One known as Brown's Midgets.
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Ride-on, brother. Lest we forget.
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Yes ! 👍
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There's a Ukrainian Canadian winning the VC in the First World War for Hill 70 in France the valour portrayed single handedly destroyed two German machine gun posts and bringing back two machine guns to the Canadian side after bayoneted 11 Germans and while trying to knock out a 3rd German machine gun post he was wounded. King George the 5th pinned the VC and wanted to where he was from he replied I'm from Ukraine. This VC holder attended the 100 year of the Victoria Cross holders in 1956 payed for by Canadian Ukrainians veterans because he couldn't afford so the veterans pitched in donating 5000 dollars for him to attend.
Thank you for taking the time to share.
Yes as an American I'd love to hear
Thanks for your reply & for watching my video.
yes
Watch this space. It is coming.
Chris do you have Wilfrith Elstob V.C on your list? Would love to hear you do a video on him. Definitely a yes to the bantams too
Thanks for your reply. Will add this to my ever growing list.
A deep dive into the Bantam Battalions would be interesting, speaking as a former 5' 5" Para.
Thanks for watching my video & you comment. I will add this to my ever growing list.
What a heroic man!!!
Glad you enjoyed it.
Yes tell us about the Bantys 🙏
Okay. Watch this space!