In Proud Memory
Digital
05/01/2009
William Collins,
my great grandfather moved from Ireland to become a Miner in Lancashire at the ripe old age of 14 - at 27 he joined Kitcheners Army with the 6th Bn South Lancs. Regiment and eventually landed on Gallipoli, having survived the landings, he was unfortunately killed on the East Bank of the River HAI while consolidating positions in the trenches L.10. L.9 and S.P.4. near Kut-al-Amara on 11/01/1917 – apparently the only soldier from his battalion that was killed on that day – Ironically he’s commemorated on the Basra memorial, but also on a memorial stone in the entrance to the Churchyard at Golborne in Lancs.
The Casualties for that month were:
2/Lieut. K.F.A ORRELL, Killed, 2/Lieut. C.W. BAXTER, Wounded, 2/Lieut. W.C. CRAIG, Died of wounds.
Other Ranks 9 Killed, 53 wounded. (Lower ranks were not mentioned by name). Details taken from Major J. M. BIRCH’s report for Major TAYLOR. 6th Bn South Lancs Regt.