Andrew Colvin was born 5th February 1888 and was the son of Elizabeth Colvin, Ballynenagh, Moneymore, County Londonderry. Andrew emigrated to Canada. He enlisted with the Canadian Infantry on 10th November 1915 and his attestation papers say that he was unmarried. He was 5 feet 4 inches tall, grey eyes, black hair and a dark complexion. He had a half inch scar on his upper lip and a scar on the first finger of his left hand. He served as a dispatch rider with his battalion in France, carrying messages to and from the front lines. During one of his missions he came under attack from the enemy positions and was seriously wounded but managed to stay conscious until he got the message through to his destination. For the action, Andrew was awarded the Military Medal. He was also the recipient of the Belgium ‘Croix de Guerre’.
Further Information
Andrew Colvin was the son of Andrew and Eliza Calvin. Andrew Colvin married Eliza Ann Jones on 13th July 1874 in the district of Cookstown.
Andrew was born 5th February 1888 in the Moneymore area. He was one of at least ten children.
Family: Andrew Colvin, Eliza Ann Colvin, Thomas Colvin (born 10th April 1875), Robert J Colvin (born 10th June 1877), Mary Colvin (born 23rd November 1879), Richard Colvin (born 19th July 1882), Henry John Colvin (born 24th August 1885), Andrew Colvin (born 5th February 1888), Isabella Colvin (born 13th June 1890), William Colvin (born 28th October 1892), David Colvin (born 26th January 1895), Margery Colvin (born 10th September 1897).
The 1901 census lists Andrew as age 13, living with the family at house 25 in Ballynenagh, Loop, County Londonderry. Andrew was still at school. They were a farming family.
Andrew’s father died on 12th July 1903, aged 61.
Andrew emigrated to Canada.
The 1911 census does not lists Andrew as living with his widowed mother at house 18 in Ballynenagh, Loop.
Prior to enlisting, Andrew lived at 15 Gwynne Avenue, Toronto. He was employed as a carpenter.
Andrew Colvin enlisted with the Canadian Infantry on 10th November 1915 and his attestation papers say that he was unmarried. He was 5 feet 4 inches tall, grey eyes, black hair and a dark complexion. He had a half inch scar on his upper lip and a scar on the first finger of his left hand.
He served as a dispatch rider with his battalion in France, carrying messages to and from the front lines. During one of his missions he came under attack from the enemy positions and was seriously wounded but managed to stay conscious until he got the message through to his destination. For the action, Andrew was awarded the Military Medal. He was also the recipient of the Belgium ‘Croix de Guerre’
Private Andrew Colvin, M.M., was serving with the 3rd Battalion of the Canadian Infantry (Central Ontario Regiment), when he died of wounds on 23rd December 1917.
The Canadian Circumstances of Death Register records that Private Colvin died of wounds on 23rd December 1917. He received shrapnel wounds to his left leg and right hand, along with a compound fracture of his right leg. He died at No 22 Casualty Clearing Station.
From the Toronto Telegram dated January 1918: Private Andy Colvin killed.
Word has been received that Private Andrew Colvin has been killed in action. He enlisted with the 8=93rd Battalion, went overseas in May 1916, and was drafted to the 3rd.he was a native of Ireland and came to Canada six years ago. Three brothers are serving. He was a carpenter and lived at the home of Mr Clark?, 15?ane Avenue.
Private Andrew Colvin, M.M., is buried at Bruay Communal Cemetery Extension, France. Nearly half the 443 burials in this small cemetery extension are of men from the Canadian Corps who occupied this sector of the front line from early 1917.
Private Andrew Colvin (M.M., Croix de Guerre) is commemorated on Moneymore War Memorial.
The Military Medal (or M.M.) was established in wartime Britain by King George V on 25th March 1916. The Medal was initially awarded to non-commissioned officers and men of the Army (including Royal Flying Corps and Royal Naval Division) for individual or associated acts of bravery which were insufficient to merit an award of a Distinguished Conduct Medal (or D.C.M.). Awards of the Military Medal were announced in the London Gazette but without a citation describing the act of bravery for which it was issued. As many as 115,600, were awarded during World War One.
The Belgian Croix de Guerre (or War Cross) was instituted on 25th October 1915 as a means of formally recognizing acts of heroism performed by individuals of any of the allied powers during World War One.
The CWGC record Private Andrew Colvin as the recipient of the Croix de Guerre (Belgium). He is also recorded as the son of Eliza A Colvin, of Ballynenagh, Moneymore, County Derry.
