The now infamous German spring offensive began
to take a heavy toll on the 63rd (Royal Naval) Division a full nine days before the actual infantry assault was
launched. The Germans flooded the area with mustard gas, costing the 4th Battalion 5 officers and 264 other ranks before the
battle had even started. The entire 63rd Royal Naval Division lost some 2000 men before the opening day of battle
– 21st March 1918.
When the expected German attack finally started
the Battalion were in reserve positions but were not long out of the action. History records that the Germans attacked with
such force that the allies began a fighting retreat almost immediately, their front lines having been quickly smashed and
overrun. British General scrambled their reserves into position and Collings-Well’s Division were moved twenty miles
into positions on the old 1916 battlefields of the Somme over just 4 days, conducting several fighting withdrawals in the
process. In a matter of days, the Germans had recovered the ground it had taken the Allies almost two years to capture and
British forces were stretched to the extreme, yet held “to the last” bullet or man, thus making the Germasn pay
dearly for their successes. During these fighting withdrawals, Lt-Colonel Collings-Wells personally led small parties of his
men who covered the withdrawal of the bulk of the Battalion by fending off ridiculous numbers of advancing Germans against
the odds. The action on the 24th saw them stay until they had run out of ammunition, yet they managed to withdraw
and reorganize further back.
On the 25th March he took his battalion
up to High Wood to reinforce the 189th Brigade who were very hard pressed. Once again he proved his natural leadership
ability under the most strenuous conditions and his men were soon heavily engaged in action. Once again they stayed until
every round of ammunition had been used. As before, Collings-Wells realised that his men would soon be surrounded so he called
for volunteers to help him hold up the Germans whilst the remainder escaped. Once the withdrawal was complete John lead the
rearguard to safety himself.
That evening they withdrew to the Thiepval Ridge
and on the 26th crossed the River Ancre, destroying all the bridges once safely over. At 7pm the Battalion moved
into position between Aveluy and Bouzincourt - 1 mile north of Albert - and were now told to hold the Germans again as they
advanced north out of the recently captured town of Albert.
Having been ordered to counter attack Bouzincourt
Ridge near Albert on the 27th March, he rallied and led the exhausted Battalion in the attack himself - as usual
- and was wounded in both arms in the process.
Although he was wounded in both arms, he led the
remnants of his battered Battalion, who took the position despite appalling enemy fire and drove the German Army back. A wounded
Sergeant saw that Collings-Wells was almost physically dragged to a bunker to have his wounds dressed as he was extremely
reluctant to leave his men. Moments later the bunker received a direct hit from a mortar shell and the 37 year old Collings-Wells,
his second in command Major Nunnelly and two other officers, including the medic were killed outright. Sadly, his body could
not be correctly identified so their personal effects were removed and the casualties were buried without knowing who was
in which grave.
The War Diary simply records:
“27 Mar 1918 - west of Albert. Batt.
was moved south to a position W of ALBERT where they attacked the Railway at 7.30 a.m. Lt.Col. J.S.COLLINGS-WELLS, D.S.O.
MAJOR G.P. NUNNELEY, 2/Lt. D.H.MACKLIN, 2.Lt. O.J.SOAMES killed, Lts.C.KEITH-JOHNSTON M.C. J.B. PRIMROSE-WELLS. 2.Lts. L.HAMBLING
& W.BROUGHTON wounded. Capt.L.G.PLUMBLY M.C. took over command of the Batt. temporarily from this date.”
For his actions between the 21st and 27th March
1918, John Stanhope Collings-Wells was posthumously awarded the Victoria Cross which was received at Buckingham
Palace by his parents in June of that year, as can be seen in the photograph.
The London Gazette dated 31-3-1919 (page 4155)
records:
”The services for which the Victoria Cross was awarded by His Majesty to the undermentioned Officers,
Warrant Officers, Non-Commissioned Officers and Men were performed at the places and on the dates mentioned:
Capt. (A./Lt.-Col.)
J. S. Collings-Wells, D.S.O., late 4th Bn., Bedf. R.
Theatre of War : Marcoing to Albert,
France.
Date of Deed : 22/27.3.18
Date of Gazette :
24.4.18”
The London Gazette citation dated 24-4-1918 adds:
”His
Majesty the KING has been graciously pleased to approve of the award of the Victoria Cross to the undermentioned Officers:
—
Capt. (A./Lt.-Col.) John Stanhope Collings-Wells, D.S.O., late Bedf. Rt
For most conspicuous bravery, skilful
leading and handling of his battalion in very critical situations during a withdrawal. When the rearguard was almost surrounded
and in great danger of being captured, Lieutenant - Colonel Collings-Wells, realising the situation, called for volunteers
to remain behind and hold up the enemy whilst the remainder of the rearguard withdrew, and with his small body of volunteers
held them up for one and a-half hours until they had expended every round of ammunition. During this time he moved freely
amongst his men guiding and encouraging them, and by his great courage undoubtedly saved the situation.
On a subsequent
occasion, when his battalion was ordered to carry out a counterattack, he showed the greatest bravery. Knowing that his men
were extremely tired after six days' fighting, he placed himself in front and led the attack, and even when twice wounded
refused to leave them but continued to lead and encourage his men until he was killed at the moment of gaining their objective.
The successful results of the operation were, without doubt, due to the undaunted courage exhibited by this officer.”
One of the reporters in “The Times”
edition of the 16th April 1918 wrote:
"For his able leadership on a recent occasion
he was awarded the D.S.O. Possessing a wonderful grasp of detail and great organising ability, Lieut.-Col. Collings-Wells
raised his battalion to a pitch of high efficiency. Endowed with untiring energy and activity, he stimulated a similar keenness
in his officers. He was wedded to his battalion and spared no efforts to promote the welfare and comfort of his men. Perhaps
his most striking characteristic was an extraordinary coolness and intrepidity under shellfire, which on many critical occasions
inspired his men with confidence and cheerfulness in the face of danger."
After his death, the Acting Adjutant Captain J.H.
Blackwell wrote to John’s parents:
“I believe [name censored] has written
to express the deep sympathy of the whole battalion in the death of your son, our Commanding Officer, whom every officer,
NCO, and man loved and admired. He was killed on March 27th leading the old battalion into action, and it was entirely
due to his energy, skill and attack, and not least his wonderful personality, that the operation was so successful ….
I have learned to admire and love him. His every action, however small, was guided by the thought, ' Will this benefit the
battalion?' and the very few who did not realise what he was doing for them will do so now…..Major Nunnelly [the second
in command] was also killed at the same time, so [entry censured, but was Captain .B. Knight, M.C. who was to receive a Bar
to his MC for his involvement in the fighting that claimed John’s life] is commanding. I am glad he is spared for I
think he knew and loved the Colonel as much as myself “
In another letter to John's mother, the Regimental
Sergeant Major J.C. Pearce, who was mentioned in the same 1917 despatches that John was, further illustrates the Battalions
feelings on their former CO:
“Dear Madam,
Many friends of my late commanding officer
will bring to you in this your hour of trial and sorrow many reminders of your sons great qualities, but with all the respect
in my nature to the mother of one of England's greatest leaders of men, I beg to inform you there are none outside his home
circle of friends who will always remember him better than we, his children.
He was our father, both at play and work, at
fighting he was above all our leader. Our wants and pleasures were his first thought day in and day out, we became first in
his mind before all things. He taught us all we knew with an unexampled sense of brave leadership, which at all times carried
us to victory, never once did he give an order to any of us which he was not prepared to carry out himself. I personally have
seen him in what we know as "tight corners", I have seen him when the situation was more than critical, it has looked almost
hopeless at times of late, but with that well known calm of his, which carried with it coolness and confidence to all around
him he has brought us through.
There are places which will go down to history,
the names of which I must not mention, he with a few picked men of my battalion has held them to the very last moment, while
the remainder of the battalion has got away to safety, always the first to lead and the last to leave the place which was
vital to our line remaining intact and never once did they get through our line.
The C.O. asked for and obtained from his boy's
a little more than the best, whilst his maxim to us was "Smile on, fight on and stick it" and no matter what the duty or how
hard the conditions, never did they finish that duty without a song on their lips, only too happy to please their beloved
leader. They loved him because he was always just and fair in his condemnation of fault, they loved him for his kindly thought
in all things appertaining to their welfare and best of all they loved him for leading and being with them in action. When
things grew hot we have known him use the rifle like his men and even bomb the enemy like any of the boys. His name was on
the lips of those who had only been with him a matter of days, they all knew him for what he was, a fighter first and last
and a great leader all the time. My Colonel inspired coolness and self determination with the spirit to win, to all of us,
we shall never meet his like again.
Dear Madam, your trial and loss is great, but
England's loss is greater, our C.O. led my dear old battalion, we know he could have directed larger forces, therefore I beg
to state that our England's loss is even greater than yours, but today our thoughts are with the mother of our leader, your
sorrow is our sorrow, your loss is our loss, but our pride and memory of him will be ours always.
Trusting these few lines will not pain the
brave mother of the bravest of sons, please accept the salute of
Yours Faithfully
J.C.Pearce A/R.S.M.
B.E.F. 9.4.18.”
King George V also sent his parents a message on
the 3rd May 1918 saying:
"It is a matter of sincere regret to me that
the death of Captain (Acting Lieutenant-Colonel) John Stanhope Collings-Wells DSO, 4th Battalion Bedfordshire Regiment,
deprived me of the pride of personally conferring upon him the Victoria Cross, the greatest of all awards for valour and devotion
to duty.
George RI"
John’s remains were known to be buried in
one of the graves from those who were killed in the dugout on 27th March 1918, but the Commonwealth Wargraves Commission
could not say for certain which one. Although it is always saddening when men cannot be identified for a proper and appropriate
burial, a heroic and inspirational gentleman such as Collings-Wells being buried in an unknown grave seems to make this sad
ending slightly sadder still. However, a peculiar sequence of circumstances changed things, as described in an undated letter
to “The Times”, concluding this incredible story rather nicely:
“Dear Sir,
When serving as a junior commissioned officer
in the 4th Battalion of the Bedfordshire Regiment (then attached to the 63rd Division) in France during
1916 I was invalided from the trenches and sent to the nearest base, where I underwent medical treatment until fit again for
active service. Before leaving my battalion in 1916, and at the special request of one of our then Captains, I gave him my
map case, bearing my own name stamped thereon, having no further need for it. I thought no more of the matter until about
a couple of years ago, when I received a communication from the Imperial War Graves Commission, returning the same map case,
battered and mud-stained almost beyond all recognition. They informed me that it had been found with the remains of an officer
in the Bedfordshire Regiment, identified as such by the tunic buttons, who, it was thought, had fallen early in 1918. I immediately
identified the map case as the one I had formerly given to Captain Collings-Wells, of my own battalion, when I left them in
1916, and informed the Imperial War Graves Commission to that effect. This officers relatives were inclined to accept this
evidence, after consultation with the authorities at the Imperial War Graves Commission, and a memorial cross is now being
erected at Bouzincourt Ridge
Cemetery, near Albert, to Lieutenant-Colonel J.S. Collings-Wells V.C
D.S.O., etc.
Yours faithfully,
G. Martin"
Lieutenant-Colonel John Stanhope Collings-Wells,
V.C., D.S.O. of Field House, Marple was killed in action 27th March 1918, aged 37. He was the son of Arthur and
Caroline Mary of Brands House, Hugenden, High Wycombe in Buckinghamshire.
He is buried in Plot 3, Row E, Grave 12 in the Bouzincourt Ridge Cemetery, France and remembered
on:
The All Saints War Memorial, Marple
St. Ethelreda's Church, Hatfield, Hertfordshire
The Collings-Wells Memorial Hall in Caddington,
Bedfordshire
The Christchurch College Plaque, Oxford.
“Collings-Wells Close” in Caddington
is also named after John, ensuring his name lives on, as it should.
Rest in Peace Sir.