Name
Frederick Collins
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
23/10/1915
33
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
12213
Royal Norfolk Regiment
7th Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
1914 /15 Star, British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
ABBEVILLE COMMUNAL CEMETERY
Plot III, Row C, Grave 10.
France
Headstone Inscription
"IN EVER LOVING MEMORY OF MY DARLING HUSBAND UNTIL THE DAY BREAKS"
UK & Other Memorials
Watford Borough Roll of Honour, St Matthew’s Church Memorial, Oxhey, Bushey & Oxhey Methodist Church, Wesleyan Methodist (now Bushey & Oxhey) Church Memorial, Oxhey
Pre War
Son of the late Richard and Ann (nee WINGFIELD) COLLINS of Oxhey; husband of Lizzie (nee BROWN) COLLINS of Oxhey.
His parents married by banns 15 July 1872 at All Saints, King’s Langley, Herts. Richard died 1900 in Bushey, Herts, aged 51, and was buried 5 January at St James’, Bushey; Ann died 1913 in Oxhey aged 69, and was buried 22 May, also at St James.
Frederick was born 5 November 1880 in Oxhey, the youngest of three children, and baptised 9 January 1881 at St Matthew’s, Oxhey. He attended Victoria Boys’ School, Watford, from 10 October 1887 to 7 September 1891. He married by banns 14 September 1912 at St Lawrence’s, Abbot’s Langley, Herts. Lizzie never remarried and died 1986 in the Watford district aged 98.
On the 1881 Census, aged 4 months with his parents and two siblings at 2, Pine Cottages, Watford, Herts.
1891 Census records Frederick aged 10, living with his parents, brothers Herbert 16, and Robert 14, at 112 Pinner Road, Watford. His grandmother Charlotte Wingfield is living with the family.
On the 1901 Census, a plasterer’s labourer aged 20, he still lived in Oxhey, with his widowed mother and no siblings. His occupation in 1901 was Plasters Labourer. On the 1911 Census, a bricklayer’s labourer aged 29, he still lived in Oxhey, with his widowed mother and no siblings.
His mother Ann Collins died in 1913, aged 69.
Wartime Service
He attested 19 August 1914 in Watford: a sweep aged 29, 5’6½” tall, of Oxhey, Herts. He served at Home 19 August 1914 to 29 May 1915, posted to the Norfolk Regiment with the Service No.12213. and in France from 30 May 1915.
He was wounded in action and died 11.20pm at No. 2 Stationary Hospital, Abbeville, of gun shot wounds to the chest.
He was entitled to the Victory, British War and 1914-15 Star medals, his qualifying date being 30 May 1915.
Additional Information
There is a Death announcement for Frederick in the West Herts and Watford Observer dated 30 October 1915; plus In Memoriams in the issues dated 28 October 1916, 27 October 1917 and 26 October 1918.
His wife, Mrs, L. Collins of 112 Pinner Road, Oxhey, Watford, Herts. ordered his headstone inscription: "IN EVER LOVING MEMORY OF MY DARLING HUSBAND UNTIL THE DAY BREAKS".
The value of his effects were £3-16s-4d, Pay Owing and £4-10s-0d, War Gratuity which went to his widow Lizzie. Lizzie received a widows pension of 10/- a week. Son of the late Richard and Ann Collins, of Oxhey; husband of Lizzie Collins, of 112, Pinner Rd., Oxhey, Watford, Herts. Information provided with kind permission of Bushey First World War Commemoration Project – Please visit www.busheyworldwarone.org.uk.
Acknowledgments
Sue Carter (Research) and Watford Museum (ROH on line via www.ourwatfordhistory.org.uk), Dianne Payne - www.busheyworldwarone.org.uk, Jonty Wild
