Colonel James Morris Colquhoun Colvin VC (26 August 1870 – 7 December 1945) 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 a member of a British or Commonwealth force.
Early life
Colvin was born in Bijnor, United Provinces, British India to James Colquhoun Colvin of the Manor House, Sutton Veny, Wiltshire, and Camilla Fanny Marie Morris, who was the eldest daughter of the Rev. Edward Morris. Colvin's father serviced with the Bengal Civil Service. He was awarded the India Mutiny medal for defending the House of Arrah. The Colvin family had been involved for a long time in various capacities in the British East Indies, serving as soldiers and administrators. Colvin's extended family members included Sir John Russell Colvin, Lieutenant-Governor of the North-West Provinces during the Indian Mutiny, and his sons Sir Auckland, K.C.S.I. and Sir Elliot Graham, K.C.S.I. Their most notable cousin was the English writer and curator Sir Sidney Colvin, known for his friendship with the young Robert Louis Stevenson.
Military service
He was educated at Charterhouse and the Royal Military Academy, Woolwich. There, for distinguished proficiency, he was awarded the Pollock Gold Medal and Memoir as a Cadet Senior Under Officer. He was also awarded the Regulation Sword for exemplary conduct. A travelling clock, aneroid barometer, thermometer and compass were awarded to him for maths and mechanics. H.R.H. the Duke of Cambridge presented the awards after inspecting cadets at RMA Woolwich, on 26 July 1889. He served on the North West Frontier of India with the Malakand Field Force in 1897–1898, and took part in operations in Bajaur, and in the Mohmand country and in Buner. He was mentioned in dispatches.
The award of the Victoria Cross was published in the London Gazette on 20 May 1898. The citation read;
Queen Victoria invested Colvin with the Victoria Cross on 19th July 1898 at Windsor Castle. who was stationed in eastern Transvaal. He remained in South Africa until the war ended in May 1902, and left for Calcutta on the SS Umlazi two months later. For his service in the war, he was again mentioned in despatches (L.G. 22 August 1902), received the brevet promotion to major and awarded the Queen's Medal with three clasps and his name was noted as qualified for Staff employment.
Later service
- Appointed Staff Captain, Army Headquarters, Simla, India on 11 April 1903 to 15 March 1906
- Passed Staff College, Camberley, in 1909
- General Staff Officer 2nd Grade, Quetta Division on 7 May 1911 to 2 November 1915
- Promoted Lieutenant-Colonel on 18 January 1917
- 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.
- Appointed Commandant, 3rd Sappers and Miners, Kirkey, India
- Katharine Camilla Colvin, who married Noel Beresford-Peirse
- James Bazett Colvin
- John Alexander Colvin, born 9 July 1913
Death details
James Colvin died at Stanway, near Colchester on 7 December 1945, aged 75. He was cremated at Ipswich Crematorium on 11 December, and his ashes scattered in the Old Garden of Rest.