Description:Lance Corporal 'Bill' Coltman VC, pictured at the presentation of the Freedom of the Borough of Newcastle-under-Lyme to the Staffordshire Regiment in 1973. He is pictured outside the Civic Offices in Merrial Street.
Bill Coltman, from Burton-upon-Trent, joined the 1/6th North Staffordshire Regiment in January 1915 as a stretcher-bearer. He was awarded the Victoria Cross for his bravery, carrying back the wounded to safety whilst under attack. For other similar acts he was also awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal (twice), the Military Medal (twice) and was mentioned in Despatches. He still ranks as the most highly-decorated soldier (i.e. excluding commissioned officers) ever. After the War he went back to his old job at the Parks Department in Burton upon Trent and died in June 1974. Image courtesy West Midlands Military Historical Society..