HENRY COLLIER 

FOUR BROTHERS COVERED IN THE STORY OF HENRY COLLIER

The “Roll of Honour” records three lads named Collier;

F. (Frank) Collier,

H. (Henry) Collier,

R. (Richard) Collier,

(There were four brothers in the family, see article 2nd Nov. 1917, under Henry’s name, he is likely to be John W. Collier. He is not listed on St. Mary’s R.o.H. but he is included here.)

The 1901 census has the Collier family living on Forest St. Weaverham, The 1911 census has the Collier family living on the High St. Weaverham;

Name; Pos’n;  Age; Occupation; Born.

John R. Hd (57) Joiner Earlestown Lancs.

Mary A. W. (56) Newsagent Spain, British Subject

Henry S. (17) Prover Packer Weaverham (Cheshirebmd 1893)

Richard S. (14) House Plumbers App. Weaverham (Cheshirebmd 1896)

Frank S. (12) School Weaverham (Cheshirebmd 1899)

Emily Burns D. (24) Weaverham plus two grandchildren.

No links to Forces details, thank goodness for the Guardian articles.

Freebmd records the marriage of a John Richard Collier/Mary Ann Smith at Chorlton in 1878. This is the only marriage recorded for a John R. Collier in the years 1875/1890. Lancashirebmd records the marriage at St. Philip, Hulme. No children record in the Chorley District, 1878/1900. Lancashirebmd does not record and births of and children named Collier/Smith in those same years. Cheshirebmd record this as the only Collier family with children born in this period, i.e. Emily 1886, Clara 1890, Amy 1892, Henry 1893, Richard 1896 and Frank 1899. This puts the lads of an age to enlist, Henry 20, Richard 17, and Frank 15 in 1914.

N.A.M.C. have over 1800 medal cards for lads with the surname Collier.

HARRY (Henry)

Northwich Guardian, 28th July, 1916 (P5/C5); THE GALLANT CHESHIRES. WEAVERHAM SOLDIER DESCRIBES THE GREAT BATTLE.

Mrs Collier, the “Guardian” newsagent at Weaverham has received a letter from her son Harry, who is in the Cheshire Regiment and has taken part in some of the stiffest fighting since the “big push.” He writes:-

“We have been through some very heavy fighting lately and I supposed we shall see some more shortly but the sooner it is over the better. I expect you have read that we have advanced all along the line, not only the British but the French as well. On our part of the line the Germans fought very hard. Their two first lines had been taken when we went into action. The division that charged first managed to get the first two lines but they were badly cut up ……. When all our brigade got into action they took about two lines and also a village. I am glad to say the Weaverham boys in our battalion are all right up to now. I have lost two pals, one of them being Harry Hornby of Winnington. [Harry Hornby was killed 9th July 1916, he was with the 9th Bn. Cheshire Regiment.] He came through it until we were being relieved. Happily he did not suffer as his death was instantaneous. Bombing played a big part in the advance and all the bombers in our brigade have earned an extra good name. I think I shall have my Christmas dinner at home this year, that is, of course, if I come through safely. The dug-outs in the German trenches are about 30ft deep, with beds, pictures, hot water pipes and everything for a soldier’s comfort, they even had electric light in some of them. We are now giving the
Germans more than they bargained for, so don’t worry about me, but just think of the happy time we shall have in the near future when I hope the war will be over.”

Northwich Guardian 1917, 2nd Nov., (P5/C3); LANCE CORPORAL HARRY COLLIER ONE OF FOUR SOLDIER BROTHERS.

The four soldier sons of Mrs Collier, widow, of High St. Weaverham, who is the agent for the “Guardian” in the village have been on active services for a long time. On Wednesday she received official information that one of them, Lance Corporal Harry Collier of the Cheshire Regiment, was suffering from gunshot wounds and was in hospital. Lance Corporal Collier who is 24 years of age, was at the outbreak of war in the employ of Messrs Horner and sons, the Creamery, Cuddington. He responded to the call for men and during his two years service at the front, he has had some thrilling experiences. The tone of several of his letters which have appeared in the Guardian have how ever proved him to be a brave soldier. When at home he was a regular worshipper at the Weaverham Parish Church where his name appears on the Roll of Honour.

N.A.M.C. - Using the Guardian articles but using the name Henry with the 9th Bn. Cheshire Regiments……. There are two lads named Henry Collier; (There are no medal cards for lads named Harry Collier.)

1) Reg’t No 16394 Private awarded the 15 Star, British and Victory medals, Theatre of War, France and Date of Entry, 6/9/15, he was demobbed on the 10th May 1919.

2) Reg’t No 17856 Private this lad was with the 9th Battalion, he was awarded the 15 Star, British and Victory medals, Theatre of War, France and Date of Entry, 20/7/15.

(I have not ben able to confirmed which of the two lads is the Weaverham Harry Collier.)

Northwich Guardian Article 28th June 1918. P3/C1; LANCE-CORPORALS HARRY AND RICHARD COLLIER.

News has reached Mrs Collier, of High Street, Weaverham, that two of her sons Lance-Corporals Harry and Richard Collier, both of whom belong to the Cheshire Regiment, have been wounded. Lance-Corporal Harry Collier, who is 23 years of age, was, prior to joining the Colours, employed at the Creamery, Cuddington, whilst his brother, who is 21 years of age, worked for Mr. Phipps, plumber, of Weaverham. They enlisted together at the beginning of the war, and went out in July 1915. It is a coincidence that they are both wounded in the left arm.

RICHARD

Northwich Guardian 8th Oct. 1915, P6/C3; WEAVERHAM SOLDIERS OPTIMISM “HOME FOR CHRISTMAS DINNER.”

Private R. Collier, who is with the 10th Cheshire Regiment at the front writing to his mother, Mrs Collier, the Guardian Newsagent at Weaverham says; “his has been the first chance of writing since we first landed, as we have been on the move to a place unknown to us. We are not far behind the line now. We can hear the guns quite plainly. We are having awful weather – raining all the time. We had a fine time with the French girls trying to find out what they said. They think the world of English soldiers and the children get hold of our hands and walk about for hours with us. I slept behind a haystack last night in the rain. We are having a good breaking in for start. We have just landed at our destination for to-night, we are in a French barrack-room and we have found some of the 2nd Cheshires here. I however don’t know any of them. We are as happy as kings. Don’t worry about us as we shall all be home for Christmas dinner. The opinion of everybody here is the same. We are expecting to have a bit of a do with the Germans very shortly and just watch the papers then We shall be in Berlin before very long.

 

Guardian 16th Feb. 1917; P5/C1; WOUNDED PRIVATES R. COLLIER & W. YOXALL

Two Weaverham soldiers Richard Collier, son of Mrs Collier, the Guardian newsagent and William Yoxall, son of Mr. and Mrs Yoxall of High St. Weaverham have been reported wounded. We are please to say that there
wounds are not considered serious. (Included with William Yoxall information.)

Northwich Guardian 16th Nov. 1917 P5/C2;

Another of the four soldier sons of Mrs Collier, the well-known “Guardian” newsagent of Weaverham, has been wounded. On Wednesday Mrs. Collier had an official communication from the Record Office at Shrewsbury informing her that Private Richard Collier of the Cheshire Regiment was in hospital abroad suffering from a gunshot wound in the right temple, adding that his injuries were only of a mild nature. This is the second time that Richard has been wounded, the first occasion being six months ago and it is less than a month since he returned to active service.

Lance Corporal Harry Collier also of the Cheshire Regiment was wounded about a fortnight ago as previously reported in the “Guardian.”

Of Mrs Collier’s two other soldier boys, one is on foreign service and the youngest is in training. (Frank)

FRANK

Northwich Guardian 16th Nov. 1917 P5/C2; copied from above on Richard; “Of Mrs Collier’s two other soldier boys, one is on foreign service and the youngest is in training.”Frank is the youngest from the census and would be 18 sometime in 1917 so it is accepted that is very likely to be Frank.

N.A.M.C. have over 50 medal cards for lads named Collier, using the name Frank. Some confirmation of a Regiment is needed.

Cheshirebmd records a Frank Collier marrying an Alice Emmerson at St. Mary’s Weaverham in 1922. Is the F. Collier, cricketer on P33 of “An Oral History” the Frank Collier on the “Roll of Honour”, he would be about 38 in 1937?

JOHN W. COLLIER

Northwich Guardian 16th Nov. 1917 P5/C2;

Another of the four soldier sons of Mrs Collier, the well-known “Guardian” newsagent of Weaverham, has been wounded. (The 1901 & 1911 census records show three sons. Is one missing from the 1901 census or is it a typo error? Check the 1891 census.

The 1891 census has the family living on Forest St. Weaverham and there is a son John W. with the family at that time, he was aged 10, born in Durham, Stockton on Tees. Freebmd records the birth of a John William Collier in Sept. Q. 1880 Stockton. This looks like the fourth Collier son.

The N.A.M.C. do not have any medal cards for a John William Collier but have 10 cards for lads named John W. Collier and over 150 medal cards for lads named John Collier.

Freebmd records the marriage of a John William Collier/Sarah Elizabeth Dunn in the March Q. of 1909 in Northwich. Cheshirebmd records the marriage at St. Mary’s Whitegate. Cheshirebmd records a Sarah E. Dunn born in 1882 Winsford. Freebmd records several births of children named Collier with the mothers maiden name of Dunn but none are recorded born locally and the way the births are spread there could be more than one family of Collier/Dunn.

Was Sarah part of the William Dunn family, this lad is one of the “Fallen” from Whitegate?

Still following up Guardian Articles on lads post WW1, the following article on the death of mother, Mrs Collier. 18th Feb. 1919. DEATH OF MRS COLLIER WEAVERHAM

The death of Mrs Collier, widow of the late Mr. John Collier, occurred the other day at her residence, High Street, Weaverham. Mrs Collier who was 66 years of age was seized with a stroke and did not regain consciousness. She was well known in Weaverham and District where she had lived for over 40 years. For a long period she was in business as a Stationer and was one of the oldest Guardian Newsagents in mid Cheshire. She leaves four sons and four daughters. (This article does confirm there where four brothers and therefore likely the four brothers all served in WW1 and from the information there is, all survived.)

Research Bob H.