Name
John William Collins
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
05/08/1917
22
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
33644
East Surrey Regiment
9th Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
YPRES (MENIN GATE) MEMORIAL
Panel 34
Belgium
Headstone Inscription
Not Researched
UK & Other Memorials
Hitchin Town Memorial, St Mary's Church Roll of Honour, Hitchin, Stevenage Old Town Memorial, St Nicholas' Church Memorial, Stevenage Old Town, Holy Trinity Church Memorial Roll of Honour, Stevenage Old Town
Pre War
John was born on 19 June 1895 in Stevenage and christened there on 1 September 1895. His parents were John and Annie Collins.
In 1901 the family were living at Church Lane, Stevenage. Present were both parents: John (29) and Annie (28), with John (senior) working as a carpenter’s labourer. Their children were: John William (6), Bertie (4) and Daisy (2).
By 1911 the family were living at 48 Alleyns Road, Stevenage. Present were both parents, John now working as a carman. The census recorded they had been married for 16 years with 5 children of whom 1 had died. All the children listed above were present except Bertie. John William was now 16 and working as a milk boy. There was another sibling Fred George (4).
John worked for Mr F.V. Franklin of Rooks Nest Farm, Stevenage for about 7 years before the war and married Daisy Underwood (b 28/3/1896) in 1915. On 27 September 1915 a son, Frederick John their only son was born. They lived at 29 Alleynes Rd, Stevenage and later at 17, Dacre Rd, Hitchin
Officially John was recorded as born in Hitchin, Herts, however the censuses record Stevenage, and enlisted Bedford.
Wartime Service
He enlisted in Bedford and was given the Regimental Number 33644. He joined in April 1917 and was posted to the 9th Battalion of the Regiment which was in the 72nd Brigade in the 24th Division of the II Corps of the 5th Army. After brief training he was sent to France and was killed in action after initially being reported as missing at St. Julien during one of his first engagements.
Around the date of his death the Battalion was in the Ypres Salient between the Battle of Pilckem and the Battle of Langemarck. The 24th Division which was to remain on the defensive in the Bassevillebeek was not relieved during the period. Duckboards were needed to move over the area and the mud resulted in numerous drownings. On the day of his death the Germans attacked and captured Jehovah Trench in the 24th Division Sector.
He has no known grave and is remembered on Panel 34 of the Menin Gate Memorial to the Missing at Ypres in Belgium.
Additional Information
After his death £1 18s 8d was authorised to go to his widow on 6 June 1918. Later, a war gratuity of £3 was authorised to be paid to her, on 3 November 1919.
His pension cards record Daisy, his widow as his next of kin/dependant, living at 17 Dacre Road, Hitchin, She was awarded a pension of 18s 9d a week from 1 April 1918. A grant of £5 was also paid on the 3 July 1918.
John had another brother serving in France.
Acknowledgments
Adrian Dunne, David C Baines, Jonty Wild, Paul Johnson
