William Harold Coltman William Harold Coltman VC , DCM & Bar , MM & Bar ( 17 November 1891 – 29 June 1974 ) was an English recipient of the Victoria Cross ( VC ) , the highest award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces . He was the most decorated other rank of the First World War , but as a stretcher bearer won all his medals without firing a shot . Victoria Cross . He was 26 years old , and a lance corporal in the 1 / 6th Battalion , The North Staffordshire Regiment ( The Prince of Wales ' s ) , British Army during the First World War when the following deed took place in France for which he was awarded the VC . For most conspicuous bravery , initiative and devotion to duty . During the operations at Mannequin Hill , north - east of Sequehart , on the 3rd and 4th of Oct . 1918 , L . - Corp . Coltman , a stretcher bearer , hearing that wounded had been left behind during a retirement , went forward alone in the face of fierce enfilade fire , found the casualties , dressed them and on three successive occasions , carried comrades on his back to safety , thus saving their lives . This very gallant NCO tended the wounded unceasingly for 48 hours . Distinguished Conduct Medal . The first award of the Distinguished Conduct Medal ( DCM ) was made for gallantry over a period of days in July 1917 . The London Gazette citation reads : Conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty in evacuating wounded from the front line at great personal risk under shell fire . His gallant conduct undoubtedly saved many lives , and he continued throughout the night to search for wounded under shell and machine gun fire , and brought several in . His absolute indifference to danger had a most inspiring effect upon the rest of his men . The second award of the DCM was made for conduct in September 1918 , only a week before his actions that earned him the VC . The citation read : On the 28th September , 1918 , near the St . Quentin Canal , near Bellenglise , he dressed and carried many wounded men under heavy artillery fire . During the advance on the following day he still remained at his work without rest or sleep , attending the wounded , taking no heed of either shell or machine - gun fire , and never resting until he was positive that our sector was clear of wounded . He set the highest example of fearlessness and devotion to duty to those with him . Military Medal . The Military Medal ( MM ) is gazetted when awarded but no citation is given . Coltman was still a private at the time of this award . The award was made for rescuing a wounded officer from no mans land in February 1917 . The second award of the MM was gazetted in August 1917 . This award was for conduct behind the front lines in June 1917 . Other awards . Prior to any of his decorations Coltman was Mentioned in Despatches for his work and was also awarded the Croix de Guerre by the French Army . Later life . After the First World War ended Coltman returned to Burton on Trent and took a job as a groundskeeper with the town ' s Parks Department . During the Second World War he commanded the Burton on Trent Army Cadet Force with the rank of Captain . He retired from his job in 1963 and died at Outwoods Hospital , Burton on Trent , in 1974 at the age of 82 . He lies buried with his wife Eleanor in the churchyard of St Mark ' s parish church in Winshill . His grave is maintained by the Victoria Cross Trust who also represent the family in all matters relating to W H Coltman VC Legacy . His medals , including his Victoria Cross , are on display at the Staffordshire Regiment Museum , at Whittington Barracks , Lichfield , Staffordshire . At the museum there is a replica WWI trench named in honour of Coltman . There is a road named in honour of Coltman in Tunstall along with other VC recipient John Harold Rhodes and R . J . Mitchell the designer of the Spitfire , all from Staffordshire .