Memorial to Pte H. G. Columbine, V.C.

Image: © Adrian S Pye Taken: 14 Feb 2020

The plinth bears three plaques: Plaque one - Pte H. G. Columbine, V.C. / Killed in Action / 22nd March 1916 [sic] / He Refused to Retire / when he might have / done so and by his / Self-sacrifice and / devotion to duty he / was the means of holding / up a large number of / the enemy for four hours. Plaque two - Erected by his / friends and / countrymen / in / ever grateful / memory in the Year / 1920. Plaque three - This plaque / was affixed in 1957 / as a token of the fact / that the memory of a / gallant comrade / is still green in the minds / of the memories of the / ?? Royal Hussars (Queen Alexander's Own) / Association. According to the CWGC he was Private, COLUMBINE, HERBERT GEORGE, Number 50720 who died 22/03/1918, aged 24 and was in the 9th Sqdn. of the Machine Gun Corps (Cavalry). He was Son of Mrs. Emma Columbine. CITATION An extract from "The London Gazette," dated 30th April, 1918, records the following:- "For most conspicuous bravery and self-sacrifice displayed, when, owing to casualties, Pte. Columbine took over command of a gun and kept it firing from 9 a.m. till 1 p.m. in an isolated position with no wire in front. During this time wave after wave of the enemy failed to get up to him. Owing to his being attacked by a low-flying aeroplane the enemy at last gained a strong footing in the trench on either side. The position being untenable he ordered the two remaining men to get away, and, though being bombed from either side, kept his gun firing and inflicting tremendous losses. He was eventually killed by a bomb which blew up him and his gun. He showed throughout the highest valour, determination and self-sacrifice." All records give his death as 22/03/1918 not 22/03/1916 as given on the plaque.

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