James Morris Colquhoun Colvin was an English recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces.

Details

He was 27 years old, and a Lieutenant in the Corps of Royal Engineers, British Army during the Mohmand Campaign, India when the following deed took place for which he was awarded the VC.

On the night of 16/17 September 1897, in the Mohmand Valley , N.W India, Lieutenant Colvin was with another lieutenant (Thomas Colclough Watson) who collected a party of volunteers and led them into the dark and burning village of Bilot, to try to dislodge the enemy who were inflicting losses on our troops. When his brother officer had been incapacitated by wounds, Lieutenant Colvin continued the fight and made two more attempts to clear the enemy from the village. He was conspicuous during the whole night for his devotion to his men, in the most exposed positions and under very heavy fire. See also James Smith

Further information

He later achieved the rank of Colonel.

From Information provided by Richard Arman, vcresearch@austarnet.com.au

Personal Details
Birthdate: Friday, 26 August 1870
Birthplace: Bijnor, United Provinces, India
Father: J.C. Colvin, of the Manor House, Sutton Veny, Wiltshire
Served with the Bengal Civil Service (one of the defenders of the house at Arrah)
Mother: Camilla Fanny Marie Morris, eldest daughter of the Rev. Edward Morris
Wife: Katharine, youngest daughter of Colonel George Augustus Way, CB
Children: Katharine Camilla; James Bazett; John Alexander, born 9 July 1913

Service Background
Service History
Joined the Royal Engineers on 27 July 1889
Served in the Chitral Relief Force in 1895 with the 4th Company, Bengal Sappers and Miners
Served with the Malakand Field Force, 1897-98
Took part in operations in Bajaur, the Mohmand Country and in Bruner
Mentioned-in-Despatches (L.G. 11 January 1898)
Served in South Africa during 1901-02 as Special Service Officer and on Staff
Mentioned-in-Despatches (L.G. 22 August 1902)
Given Brevet of Major and his name was noted for as qualified for Staff employment
Passed Staff College, Camberley, in 1909
Appointed Staff Captain, Army Headquarters, Simla, India on 11 April 1903 to 15 March 1906
General Staff Officer 2nd Grade, Quetta Division on 7 May 1911 to 2 November 1915
Promoted Lieutenant-Colonel on 18 January 1917
Appointed Commandant, 3rd Sappers and Miners, Kirkey, India

Orders, Decorations, Medals
Victoria Cross
India General Service Medal 1895 with clasps 'Relief of Chitral 1895', 'Punjab Frontier 1897-98'
Queen's South Africa Medal with clasps 'Transvaal', 'South Africa 1901', and 'South Africa 1902'

Civilian History
Education
Charterhouse and the Royal Military Academy, Woolwich
Awarded the 'Pollock Gold Medal' and Memoir as a Cadet Senior Under Officer for distinguished proficiency; the Regulation Sword for exemplary conduct; a travelling clock, aneroid barometer, thermometer and compass for maths and mechanics.
These awards were presented to him by H.R.H. the Duke of Cambridge after his inspection of cadets at RMA Woolwich, on 26 July 1889

Citations
VC Citation
The award of the Victoria Cross, for for action during the Mohmand Campaign, Bilot, India, was published on p.__ of London Gazette No. ___, dated 20 May 1898.
The citation read :

"Lieutenant James Morris Colquhoun Colvin, Lieut., Royal Engineers. On the same occasion, after Lieutenant Watson had been incapacitated by his wounds from further effort, Lieutenant Colvin continued the fight and persisted in two more attempts to clear the enemy out of the dark and still burning village. He was conspicuous during the whole night for his devotion to his men in the most exposed positions under a heavy fire from the enemy."

Other Citations Mentioned-in-Despatches (L.G. 11 January 1898)
Mentioned-in-Despatches (L.G. 22 August 1902)

Colvin was Mentioned-in-Despatches (the Despatch, dated 20 August 1918, of ___ Sir C.C. Munro) vide p.13907 of London Gazette No. 31031, dated 26 November 1918.

Death Details
Death - cremated: Little Catchalls, Stanway, Nr. Colchester, Essex on 7 December 1945

Reference

• Monuments To Courage (David Harvey, 1999)
• The Register of the Victoria Cross (This England, 1997)
• The Sapper VCs (Gerald Napier, 1998)
• Paul Woodness
• The Victoria Cross 1856 - 1920 (Hayward)
• The History of the Victoria Cross (Philip A. Wilkins)

External links

• Location of grave and VC medal (Suffolk)

This page has been migrated from the Victoria Cross Reference with permission.