No.340913, Gunner, George COLLINS
Aged 22
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George Collins was born at Green Yard, Exning on 6th September 1890 (Newmarket Q4-1890 3B:470), baptised in Burwell on 26th October 1890, son of George and Susannah Frances
COLLINS (née FAIRCLIFFE).
1891 census...Aged 7 months, he was at Oxford Street, Exning with his father George COLLINS [26] carman, born Landbeach; his mother Susannah [25] born Burwell and sister Emily [2] born Burwell. 1901 census...Aged 10, he was at North Street, Burwell with his grandparents James FAIRCLIFE [71] farmer born Burwell and Mary A. [67] born Exning; their sons James G and Bertram, a grandson William FAIRFCLIFFE [23] born Wakefield, Yorkshire and granddaughter Mary M FAIRCLIFFE [20] born Fordham. His parents were at North Street with his sisters Emily, Helen Rose [4] and Minnie [1] both born in Burwell. He married Ipswich born Ethel May Clark in 1909 (Ipswich Q3-1909 4A:2017). 1911 census...Aged 23, he was with his wife Ethel [21] at 2 St. Margaret Street, Walton, Felixstowe, a grocer's porter. His parents were at Church Street, Fordham with his sisters Minnie, Norah [7] and Gertrude [5] both born in Burwell, Doris [1] born in Fordham, and brother James [2] born in Fordham. 2 of Frances' 10 children had died by then. His sister Mary and daughter Violet had recounted their memories of family life to Joan Badock in 1993, which account is in the Burwell Village archives. In summary here though: The family moved to Fordham and Frances had 13 children of whom 8 survived, giving George a brother and 6 sisters. They moved on to Burwell and lived in several cottages over time. George, being eldest went to live with his grandparents who took over his education and brought him up, 'to help his mother'. After he left school he worked for Lipton's, delivering and selling by horse and cart. He met his wife Ethel May CLARK in Felixstowe whilst a van driver for Lipton's in that area and married her in 1909. They settled in Felixstowe in the dock area and had three children, Violet May. [1912] and Douglas George. [1914] and Claude Cecil. [1916]. Son Claude served in Cyprus in WW2 and died soon after the war. Douglas was killed in WW2 as a Lieutenant in the RNVR on the MV Willamette Valley, a Q ship sailing as HMS Edgehill. Nephi ASHTON from Soham was also killed in that sinking. |
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He enlisted in Harwich.
Locre is now LOKER, the cemetery being SE of the village. Field ambulances were stationed in the Convent of St. Antoine. The family relate that he was
wounded at a gun emplacement on 19th May 1917 near Ypres, and died of his wounds at Locre.
photo: Rodney Gibson click here to go to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission website for full cemetery/memorial details |
