Herbert George Columbine facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Herbert George Columbine
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Herbert Columbine memorial at Walton on the Naze, Essex.
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| Born | 28 November 1893 Penge, London |
| Died | 22 March 1918 (aged 24) Hervilly Wood, France |
| Buried |
Remembered on the Pozieres Memorial
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| Allegiance |  United Kingdom |
| Service/ |
 British Army |
| Years of service | – 1918 † |
| Rank | Private |
| Unit | 19th Hussars Machine Gun Corps |
| Battles/wars | World War I |
| Awards | Victoria Cross |
Herbert George Columbine was a very brave English soldier. He was born on November 28, 1893. He received the Victoria Cross, which is the highest award for bravery given to British and Commonwealth soldiers. This special medal is given for incredible courage when facing the enemy.
Herbert Columbine was a Private in the Machine Gun Corps during World War I. A Private is a common soldier. The Machine Gun Corps used powerful machine guns in battles. He was only 24 years old when he showed amazing bravery.
A Brave Soldier
On March 22, 1918, Private Columbine was fighting in Hervilly Wood, France. He took charge of a Vickers gun, which was a type of machine gun. He kept firing it for four hours, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
His Final Stand
His position was all alone, with no protective wire in front. Enemy soldiers kept trying to reach him, but he held them back. They came in waves, but he stopped them every time.
Finally, with help from a low-flying aircraft, the enemy managed to get into the trench. Private Columbine's position was now very dangerous. He told the two remaining soldiers with him to escape to safety.
Even though bombs were exploding all around him, he kept firing his gun. He caused many losses for the enemy. Sadly, he was killed by a bomb that also destroyed his gun. His courage saved many lives.
Remembering a Hero
Herbert Columbine is remembered for his incredible bravery. His name is on the Pozières Memorial in France. This memorial honors soldiers from the Fifth Army who went missing in battle.
A Statue in His Honor
A building in Walton-on-the-Naze, called the Columbine Centre, is named after him. It is a place for fun and community activities.
People also raised money to build a statue of Herbert Columbine. Famous actress Dame Judi Dench helped with this project. The statue was made by John Doubleday. It was put up on August 1, 2014, on the seafront in Walton-on-the-Naze. It helps everyone remember his amazing courage and sacrifice.
