Name
Lewis Wellington Collyer (MM)
1/09/1888
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
25/03/1918
29
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Lance Serjeant
322070
London Regiment (City of London Rifles)
1st/6th (City of London) Bn. attd. 1st/15th Bn. London Regiment (Prince of Wales' Own Civil Service
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
British War and Victory medals
Military Medal
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
POZIERES MEMORIAL
Panel 86 and 87.
France
Headstone Inscription
N/A
UK & Other Memorials
Watford Borough Roll of Honour, St Michael and All Angels Church Memorial, Watford, Not on the Aldbury memorials
Pre War
Son of Joseph Jesse and Caroline (nee BURCH) COLLYER of Watford; husband of Ethel (nee FLETCHER) COLLYER.
His parents married 5 July 1879 at St John the Baptist, Aldbury, Herts. Joseph died 1938 in Watford aged 77, and was buried 16 April in Vicarage Road Cemetery, Watford; Caroline died 1946 in Watford aged 86, and was buried 17 April, also in Vicarage Road Cemetery.
Lewis was born 1 September 1888 in Aldbury, and baptised 3 November 1889 at St John the Baptist, Aldbury. He attended Beechen Grove Board School, Watford, from 21 March 1895 to 25 January 1901. He married 1910 in the Watford district; they had one child. He resided in Watford.
He has an entry in the National Probate Calendar.
On the 1891 Census, aged 2 he lived in Aldbury, with his parents and four siblings. On the 1901 Census, an errand boy aged 12, he lived in Watford, with his parents and seven siblings. On the 1911 Census, a gas company collector aged 22, he lived in Bushey, Herts, with his wife and one child.
Wartime Service
Louis enlisted in London, posted to the 6th (City of London Rifles) Battalion, London Regiment and issued with the service No. 4728, later 322070, (his service number indicates he enlisted about July 1915), on completion of his training he was sent to France, arriving on 19th July 1916, seeing action at The Somme, Arras and Cambrai. On 17th April 1917, Lewis was Gazetted the Military Cross for Conspicuous Galanter in the field and Devotion to Duty. He was killed in action on 25th March 1918, aged 29, he has no known grave, he is commemorated on the Pozieres Memorial to the missing in France. Panel 86 & 87.
He was entitled to the Victory and British War medals.
Additional Information
His widow Ethel received a grant of £5, on 18th April 1918, and a widows pension of 10/- a week from 16th December 1918. A note on the pension record card states, "Widow stated she does not wish to claim a pension as she dose not require it".
His effects of £6-08s-06d, pay owing and his war gratuity of £13-10s-00d, went to his mother Caroline.
Unfortunately, Lewis’ Service Record appears to be one that did not survive the World War Two bombing. There is a brief article about and a Death announcement for Lewis in the West Herts and Watford Observer dated 27 April 1918; plus another article in the issue dated 4 May 1918, and an In Memoriam in the issue dated 12 April 1919. Has a entry in the National Roll of the Great War. Recorded in the Soldiers Died in the Great War transcript as COLLVER.
Acknowledgments
Stuart Osborne
Sue Carter (Research) and Watford Museum (ROH on line via www.ourwatfordhistory.org.uk)
