Gilbert James Collins

Memorial: Pilning

Regiment: Yorkshire Regiment - The Green Howards

Medals: British War Medal, Victory Medal

Rank and number: Corporal 235739

Parents: Edwin and Marian Collins

Marital status: Single

Home address: New Passage Road, Redwick, Bristol

Pre-war occupation: Farm Labourer

Date of birth: 1887

Place of birth: Redwick, Bristol

Date of death: 26/05/1918

Buried/Commemorated at: Soissons Memorial, France

Age: 31

Further information:

Gilbert James was the son of Edwin and Marian Collins. In the 1891 census Edwin Collins is a Grocer/Baker/Farmer living at New Passage Road, Redwick with children Gilbert (4) Gwendoline (3) and baby Ellen. In 1911 all the family are living together with Gilbert (24) and his 15 year-old brother Thomas Edwin working on the farm

Gilbert Collins originally enlisted in 1917 with the Royal Gloucestershire Hussars, then he moved to the 5th Battalion Yorkshire Regiment, the Green Howards, where he was a Corporal, his Army Number was 235739. Corporal Gilbert Collins was Killed in Action on the 25th or 26th May, there is an official Date of Burial of 27th May 1918. Gilbert Collins is remembered on the Soissons Memorial, approximately 100 kilometres north-east of Paris, France

The following is an extract from the Appendix to the May Diary 1918 by Lt-Col Douglas Ward, Comdg. 5th Yorkshire Regiment.
May 21st moved into trenches and relieved 4th Batt. Yorkshire Regt. Relief complete 2.30a.m. A, B, C Coys in front line & D Coy in support
May 22nd Quiet Day in the trenches
May 23rd Day quiet in trenches. 4th East Yorkshire Regt on our left raided enemy Machine Gun Posts
May 24/25th Day quiet in trenches. Casualties 25.5.18, 5 ORs killed, 2nd Lt & 2 ORs wounded
May 26th Day quiet in trenches. “Stood to” at night owing to information received that enemy attack was to be delivered on morning of 27th May
May 27th Enemy attacked at 4.30.a.m. Barrage commenced at 1.a.m. Casualties  Missing -  25 Officers, 638 ORs; Killed - 9 ORs; Wounded - 1 Officer, 11 ORs

By kind permission, this information is based on the following source(s):

Publication: Village Heroes. Pilning and Severn Beach History Group. Nancy Vowles and Val George researched and put together the information. Forces War Records and CWGC