Lance Corporal Coltman was 26 years old and a stretcher-bearer, 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.
Coltman was invested with his Victoria Cross by King George V at Buckingham Palace on 22 May 1919.
