Name
William James Collins
23 Nov 1893
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
19/04/1915
21
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
16423
Bedfordshire Regiment
1st Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
1914 /15 Star, British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
YPRES (MENIN GATE) MEMORIAL
Panel 31 and 33.
Belgium
Headstone Inscription
Not Researched
UK & Other Memorials
Christ Church Memorial, Little Heath, Potters Bar, Little Heath & Bentley Heath Memorial, Potters Bar, All Souls Chapel Book of Remembrance, Potters Bar, North Mymms War Memorial, St Mary's Church Roll of Honour, North Mymms, North Mymms War Shrine, North Mymms Memorial Hall Memorial, Welham Green
Pre War
William James Collins was born n North Mymms on 23 Nov 1893 (baptised % Feb 1894) to George Nathaniel Collins, a carpenter, and Emily Ann (nee Reed).
On the 1901 Census the family of parents, Arthur N (born 1892) and William were living at Grag Cottage, Welham Green, north Mimms.
William & Arthur’s mother died in 1909.
On the 1911 census William was employed as a plumber and living with his father George Nathaniel, widower, was carpenter and clerk to the vestry and Parish Council and his brother Charles living at 3 Alma Cottages Welham Green. William was as an excellent cricketer having played for the Boy’s School X1 as a leading batsman, he also played in the North Mymms Brass Band.
Wartime Service
William enlisted for the Bedfordshire Regiment at North Mymms. His Service Number of 16423 suggests he enlisted in early Sep 1914. Following his training he landed in France on 2 Feb 1915 in a draft of 60 men to join 1st Battalion at Ypres on 8 Feb 1915. William was killed in action on 19 Apr 1915 during the Battle of Hill 60 (south of Ypres) as was his old school chum Herbert Hickson.
The Battalion war diary states “19 Apr 1915 – Front line occupied in early morning by Bedfords & 1/East Surrey Regt. Work carried out under difficulties to consolidate position on Hill 60. Considerable shelling and bombing by enemy.”
The 1st Bedfordshire’s were left in command of the hill initially but suffered such heavy casualties holding the ground that company after company of other 5th Division units were fed into the fighting, all losing heavy casualties as a result. Intense fighting continued until 22 April, with the 1st Bedfordshire’s having lost around 700 men, William was one of them, his remains were not recovered and he is remembered on the Menin Gate Memorial, Ypres.
Additional Information
War Gratuity of £3 and arrears of £3 17s %d was paid to his Stepmother Harriet Collins.
Acknowledgments
Neil Cooper
Martin Cope, Mike Allen
