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A busy day was had cleaning the memorial to William Coltman VC, DCM and bar MM and bar – the most highly decorated ‘other rank’ in WW1. His grave in St Mark’s churchyard Winshill in Burton on Trent was in excellent condition with only weeding and a change of stone dressings required following a wipe down. There is also the memorial in the town centre to William, along with a plinth near to the bandstand in the nearby park to commemorate this undoubtedly dedicated soldier. We had spoken to the local town council to gain permissions to clean the Coltman memorial and offered to also clean the amazing war memorial itself adjacent to the plinth. The Victoria Cross Trust also has a special statue dedicated to William in our shop in Doncaster and is available for all to see. The photographs tell the story and the citation below describes his exploits leading to his awards for valour on numerous occasions.

Lance Corporal WILLIAM COLTMAN MANNEQUIN HILL, SEQUEHART, France 3/4 October 1918 He was 26 years old and serving in the 1/6th Bn, North Staffordshire Regiment (Prince of Wales’s) as a stretcher-bearer. When he heard that some wounded men had been left behind, he went forward alone in the face of heavy enfilading fire, found the men, dressed their wounds and made three successive journeys carrying them on his back to safety. He tended the wounded unceasingly for 48 hours. Coltman was the most highly decorated NCO of the war, being awarded the VC, the DCM and Bar, and the MM and Bar. He was one of 74 VC holders who formed the honour guard at the interment of the Unknown Soldier at Westminster Abbey on 11 November 1920. He died on 29 June 1974.

Brazier, Kevin. The Complete Victoria Cross : A Full Chronological Record of All Holders of Britain’s Highest Award for Gallantry . Pen and Sword. Kindle Edition.

Thank you to Ian Bradley for his energy to get this project going and to Michael Hovers for organising the necessary permits to complete the work.

May 2023 saw Ben Parkinson open the Victoria Cross Trust’s new premises in Doncaster Frenchgate Shopping Centre. We sell a wide range of goods including personalised gifts, military collectables, wooden models and clothing to suit the military enthusiast. From these sales we are able to complete restorations free of charge for VC graves and associated memorials. Well worth a visit whether you are shopping or want to view the artefacts displayed around the shop or even become a volunteer. Call us on 01302835999.

On our return from three days of restoration work we visitted Eccleston and cleaned the grave of Alfred Ernest Ind VC. In a beautiful churchyard at the rear of St Mary the Virgin Church and on the estate of the Duke of Westminster. He earned his VC just four weeks before Arthur Martin-Leake Vc and bar earned his first VC. His citation reads:

TAFELKOP 20 December 1901 He was 29 years old and serving in the Royal Horse Artillery when he stuck to his pom-pom gun under very heavy fire after all the remainder of the team had been shot down. Ind continued to fire into the advancing Boers until the last possible moment. A captain, who was mortally wounded in this action, requested that Ind’s gallant conduct on this and in every other action since he joined the pom-pom service be brought to notice. He died on 29 November 1916.

Brazier, Kevin. The Complete Victoria Cross : A Full Chronological Record of All Holders of Britain’s Highest Award for Gallantry . Pen and Sword. Kindle Edition.

Thomas Egerton Hale VC is linked to the captain of the England Cricket Team who were beaten in a test by Australia that led to the burning of the stumps. How timely that we cleaned both graves in Acton Nantwich on the first day of play of the final test in the 2023 Ashes series. Also named on Honby’s grave is Walter Hornby, wounded in France and died on 5th November 1918 just six days before the end of WWI.

The grave of Hale VC is not see easy to spot lying flat and amongst a number of other headstones whose enscription are not easy to see.

The action that led to the VC being awarded to Assitant Surgeon Hale reads:

Assistant Surgeon THOMAS HALE SEBASTOPOL 8 September 1855 He was 22 years old and serving in the 1st Bn, 7th Regiment of Foot, later the Royal Fusiliers, when during the attack on the Redan he stayed with the severely wounded Lieutenant Hope, when all but one had retreated. On the same day Hale cleared the most advanced sap of wounded, and then went out into the open under heavy fire and carried several wounded men into the sap. He died on 25 December 1909.

Brazier, Kevin. The Complete Victoria Cross : A Full Chronological Record of All Holders of Britain’s Highest Award for Gallantry . Pen and Sword. Kindle Edition.

The grave of the Hornby family is prominant and bears a set of carved stumps bat and ball at its base.

Albert Neilson Hornby, nicknamed Monkey Hornby (10 February 1847 – 17 December 1925) was one of the best-known sportsmen in England during the nineteenth century excelling in both rugby and cricket. He was the first of only two men to captain the country at both rugby and cricket but is also remembered as the England cricket captain whose side lost the Test match which gave rise to the Ashes, at home against the Australians,  in 1882. Additionally, he played football for Blackburn Rovers.

 

A busy week in the West Country saw us clean the grave of Harold Edward Whitfield VC. The white marble cross in need of significant cleaning. His citation reads.

Private HAROLD WHITFIELD BURJ EL LISANEH, Egypt 10 March 1918 He was 31 years old and serving in the 10th Bn, King’s Shropshire Light Infantry. During the third counter-attack by the enemy on the position that had just been captured by his battalion, Whitfield single-handedly charged and captured a machine-gun, killing the whole crew; turning the gun on the Turks, he drove them back with heavy casualties. Later he organised and led a bombing attack on the enemy, again inflicting many casualties. He then established his party in their position and assisted in the defeat of another counterattack. His actions this day saved many lives. He died on 19 December 1956.

Brazier, Kevin. The Complete Victoria Cross : A Full Chronological Record of All Holders of Britain’s Highest Award for Gallantry . Pen and Sword. Kindle Edition.

The passion to remember Percy Welton MC buried in Wrexham was personified in Jim, a 94 year old who had mentioned to Claire Lewis of the RBL that it broke his heart to see the state of his hero’s grave, he likes to visit and pay his respects with a poppy cross. The VCT saw Claire’s Tweet asking for help and stepped into to affect a restoration of Percy Welton MC’s grave on Wednesday 27th July 2023. On the following day Jim visited and we revealed the restoration and held a short service with representatives from the RWF in attendance.

The pictures tell the story.

The grave is of Major Percy Welton, Military Cross recipient who died in 1923. He had a long and varied career with the Royal Welch Fusiliers, joining the ranks in 1896 he served continuously until 1919, retiring with the rank of Major. From 1898 to 1914 he served abroad in China, Burma and India with the 2^nd Battalion. His interest in sport was unfailing and it was largely due to his efforts that the battalion was successful in winning the Regimental Boxing Championship of India on three occasions. He received his commission in the early days of the Great War and before the end of it had attained the rank of Major. He was wounded by a sniper at Fromelles in France and also wounded at the battle of Loos.  He was wounded again at Mametz Wood on the Somme when with the 17^th Battalion. He  was awarded the Military Cross and gazetted on the 12/01/1918. His connection with the regiment did not cease after the war, for he assumed the duties of Recruiting Officer for the Regimental Area, in which capacity he served until a fortnight before his death.

We are absolutely delighted to announce that we are the recipients of the Armed Forces Employer Recognition Scheme Silver Award 2023 #ERS2023. Testament to all of the hard work of such a small team with a huge name and heart.

After a tremendous amount of work put in by our team we are pleased to announce that we will opening our new shop in The Frenchgate Shopping Centre Doncaster at 11am on Saturday 20th May 2023. Situated in the heart of Doncaster City centre close to all transport hubs and car parking the new shop offers a mix of both historical artefacts and retail all of which goes towards the costs of maintaining the graves of the brave. We also offer a Veteran’s drop in and volunteering opportunities both out on the road cleaning VC graves as well as educating the public and helping in the shop.

This move from Lakeside who supported us tremendously offers a more permanent facility for al to enjoy whther its just shopping or taking a look at our displays and speaking to the veterans. What ever your preference we truly offer a very unique experience.