William Alfred Collins was born in Oswestry in 1886. His mother was Mary Collins and his father was William Samuel Collins, but no record of his father can be found in 1891 onwards Census. William had an elder brother, George and a younger sister, Ada, who was born in 1889 but died at age 2. In 1891 the family was living at Osborne Yard, Bailey Street. By 1901 they had moved to 5 Bay Cottages off Llys Lane. William and his brother were both working as labourers. By 1911 William was working as a groom for a livery stable and would later become a labourer working for Cambrian Railways. He was still living at Bay Cottages with his mother, who was now a widow, and a boarder. His brother had moved to 7 Prince Street and lived there with his wife and two daughters, they would later move to live at Tranmere.

William enlisted at Shrewsbury in 1914 and was posted to 6 Bn King’s Shropshire Infantry = The Oswestry Pals. Given his regimental number – 7078  – it is possible he had previously been in the Territorial force. Also, he was not one of the Pals volunteers who left Oswestry in September 1914, this, and his enlistment at Shrewsbury, suggests he could have been mobilised or had reported as a reservist rather than volunteered. He went over to France with 6 Bn KSLI on  24 July 1915.

William was wounded on 10 June 1918 during a patrol in ‘no man’s land’. The 6 Bn was in the front line at Avion near to Lens. Two patrols went out. They were spotted and the enemy laid down a barrage. 16 soldiers were wounded, William was hit in the leg, back and arm. He  was evacuated back to a CCS at Aubigny where he died three days later on 13 June 1918. He is buried in Aubigny Communal Cemetery Extension. William is also commemorated on the Cambrian Railway Memorial and at Holy Trinity Church, Oswestry.

Acknowledgements.

References and Sources

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