James Collis VC

Name: James Collis

Conflict: Second Afghan War

Gazetted: May 16, 1881

Service: Army

Place/date of birth: Cambridge/April 19, 1856

Rank when awarded VC (and later highest rank): Gunner

Date of bravery: July 28, 1880

London Gazette citation:

For conspicuous bravery during the retreat from Maiwand to Kandahar, on the 28^th July, 1880, when the Officer commanding the battery was endeavouring to bring on a limber, with wounded men, under a cross fire, in running forward and drawing the enemy’s fire himself, thus taking off their attention from the limber.

Click here to see full Gazette entry.

Other decorations: N/A

Place/date of death: Battersea, London/June 28, 1918

Grave/memorials: Wandsworth cemetery, London/Royal Artillery Memorial, Woolwich, London

Origin of VC to the Lord Ashcroft collection: Purchased privately, 2014

Current location of VC: Displayed on rotation at The Lord Ashcroft Gallery: Extraordinary Heroes exhibition, Imperial War Museum