COLLEY H.
Harry Colley D.C.M.
Serjeant 139154
253rd Tunnelling Coy., Royal Engineers
Harry Colley died on Sunday 25 November 1917, age 35, and was buried in the BLEUET FARM CEMETERY, Ieper, West-Vlaanderen, Belgium.
He was born at Mansfield in 1883 to parents John & Sarah Colley. John Colley was a General Labourer, and a native of Mansfield, who married Sarah Thurman at St John's church, Mansfield in January 1865. On the 1901 census Harry Colley was a Bricklayers Labourer.
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Harry Colley was
awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal in November 1916, for saving
lives while under fire.
The reverse of the medal states ~ "For distinguished conduct in the field" |
Supplement to the London Gazette, 11th December 1916
139154, L/Cpl (Actg. Cpl.) H. Colley, R. E. For conspicuous gallantry in action. He worked at rescue operations under heavy fire in full view of the enemy, thereby saving the lives of three men who were buried.
Notts Free Press - Sutton's Roll of Honour - 10th January 1919
Colley, Sergeant Harry, R. E.
From
‘Soldiers who died in the Great War 1914-19 –
Corps of Royal Engineers'
Harry
Colley. Born Mansfield, Notts, enlisted
Sutton-in-Ashfield, Notts. Corps of Royal
Engineers. Sergeant 139154, Killed in Action, France & Flanders, 25th
November 1917. Formerly 12982 Leics Regt. D.C.M. (253rd Tunn. Coy., R.E.)
From "Lest we forget - The Blackwell Colliery War Souvenier"
H. Colley, Lawn Rd., Sutton. Enlisted 29-8-14. Pte., Leicester Regt. Actions: France. Promoted Sergt. Distinction: D.C.M., Nov. 1916. Killed in action, 25-11-17.
Research by Heather Faulkes
