Name
Cecil William Collings
1898
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
24/04/1918
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
266649
Bedfordshire Regiment
7th Battalion
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
POZIERES MEMORIAL
Panel 28 and 29.
France
Headstone Inscription
N/A
UK & Other Memorials
Hemel Hempstead Town Memorial, Hertfordshire Regimental Memorial, All Saints Church, Hertford, St Mary's Church Memorial, Apsley End
Pre War
Cecil William Collings was born in 1898 (baptised 28 Aug 1898 in Wheathampstead) in Harpenden, Herts, the son of Charles John Collings and Florence Lilian (nee Lovett), and was one of six children. On the 1901 Census the family of parents, Clement Charles (born 1891), Winifred May (born 1893), Walter Frederick (born 1896), Cecil, and Louisa Lovett (maternal grandmother) were living at Nash Mills, Apsley End, Herts, where his father was working as a Storekeeper in an Engineering Works. On the 1911 Census Cecil was living with his mother, Clement, Winifred, Walter and Edward George (born 1902), Victor Edward (born 1906), with Louisa Lovett. Cecil’s father is not recorded.
Cecil’s Father Charles John died in late 1911. Cecil’s mother remarried in 1926 to William Puddephat.
Wartime Service
Cecil enlisted at Hertford in June 1915 when he reached his 17th birthday and must have lied about his age as he was accepted into the 1st Battalion, Hertfordshire Regiment, Territorial Force (as Private 5059) and sent for basic training with one of Hertfordshire’s second line battalions. No Service Records are available for Cecil. At some time he went to France and was transferred to the 7th Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment), probably arriving in June 1916, and would have first seen action in the Battle of Albert on 1 July 1916, followed by the Battle of Bazentin Ridge by which time the Battalion had lost almost 300 men. In 1917 all territorial force soldiers were renumbered and Cecil became 266497 (his number is within the range allocated for transferred men from Herts to Bedford Regiments).
The following year, 1917, the 7th Battalion took part in many battles, starting with the Battle of Ancre, Third Battle of the Scarpe and later in the year the Third Battle of Ypres, better known as Passchendaele, again suffering more heavy casualties.
In March 1918, the Germans launched Operation Michael causing retreats of the overstretched British Army in the Somme area which had recently taken over French positions. The Battalion fought in the Battle of St Quentin which Cecil again survived, but he was sadly killed in action on 24 April 1918, aged 19, during the action at Villers-Bretonneux when the Battalion were ordered in a night attack with other units to attack the Germans who had taken Villers-Bretonneaux . The Bedfords took their objective but were under severe fire as they were exposed on both flanks, they held their position until relieved by French Colonial troops. 13 men were listed as killed, 105 wounded and 70 misssing. Cecil was among the 70 missing and has no known grave. His name is commemorated on the Pozieres Memorial, France.
The following year the 7th Battalion took part in many battles, starting with the Battle of Ancre, Third Battle of the Scarpe and later in the year the Third Battle of Ypres, better known as Passchendaele, suffering more heavy casualties.
In March 1918, the Battalion fought in the Battle of St Quentin which Cecil again survived, but was sadly killed in action on 24 April 1918, aged 19, during the action at Villers-Bretonneux when 198 men were listed as killed, missing or wounded. Cecil was among the 70 missing and has no known grave. His name is commemorated on the Pozieres Memorial, France.
Additional Information
His mother received a war gratuity of £16 10s and pay owing of 2s 7d. She also received a pension of 5 shillings a week, later increased to 12s 6d. Please note that this casualty is presently recorded on Panel 89 and 90 however his name will be moved to Panel 28 and 29 as and when it is next replaced. Brother Clement enlisted with Herts Regiment as Private 6143 & Bedfordshire Regiment as 210490 surviving the Great War.
Acknowledgments
Brenda Palmer, Neil Cooper
Jonty Wild, www.hemelatwar.org., www.dacorumheritage.org.uk., www.hemelheroes.com.
