Name
Edwin John Collins
1896
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
16/02/1918
22
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Rifleman
S/26373
Rifle Brigade
16th Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
BOULOGNE EASTERN CEMETERY
VIII. I. 160.
France
Headstone Inscription
No Report
UK & Other Memorials
Letchworth Town Memorial
Pre War
Edwin John Collins was born in 1896 in Mile End to William Collins, police constable, and Theresa (nee Sheridan).
No information for the family seems reliable for 1901 Census.
On the 1911 Census the family of parents, Ellen (born 1888, packer), Teresa (born1890, packer) Lilian (born 1891, packer), William (born 1893, clerk), Edward J (born 1893, engineer apprentice), Kathleen (born 1893), Eileen (born 1891), Lawrence (born 1903), Florence (born 1903), Leslie (born 1906) and Enid (born 1908) were living at 4, Elm Road, Shadwell, Middx.
Edwin married Fanny Coleman in 1913, there were 2 children – Bertha Emily (born 19 Oct 1916) and Winifred May (born 30 Apr 1918). They lived at 26, Lytton Avenue, Letchworth.
Wartime Service
No Service Record was found for Edwin, He was enlisted in the Rifle Brigade (Prince Consort’s Own) as Rifleman S/26373 and was posted to 16 (Service) Battalion (St Pancras), the Battalion was part of 117th Brigade in 39th Division. The division fought at the Somme in 1916 and at 3rd Ypres (Passchendaele) in 1917.
Edwin was wounded in a period of no major actions and although taken to 3rd Canadian Hospital at Dannes-Camier died there on 19 Feb 1918.
Additional Information
War Gratuity of £7 10s and arrears of £11 11s 10d was paid to his widow Fanny, she also received a pension of 25s 5d.
Acknowledgments
Neil Cooper
Dan Hill, Louise Fryer, Jonty Wild
