William Henry Collingburn
- Family History
- Military History
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William was born in Helperby, Yorkshire in 1898 and was the son of Herbert Henry a grocer and shopkeeper and Mary Jane Collingburn, (nee Nolson) of 37, London Rd., East Retford. Herbert was born in Retford and Mary was born in Helperby, after their marriage in 1898 they lived at Helperby and had four sons , William the eldest, followed by Ernest, Herbert and Alfred. In the 1911 census the family are living at Helperby ,William is 13 years of age.
Gunner Wm Henry Collingburn The Retford Times 16th November 1917 Mr and Mrs H H Collingburn, 37 London Road, Retford, received official information on Saturday from the War Office that their eldest son, Gunner Wm Henry Collingburn, Royal Field Artillery, had died on October 31st in a Canadian Casualty Clearing Station, where he was admitted on the previous day from the effects of having been severely gassed. He was a student at Easingwold Grammar School where he had won a scholarship from Brafferton National School and had a brilliant career ahead of him. He had only just started in a bursarship when war broke out and although he was only sixteen and a half years old he joined the Army at the end of September 1914 and in August 1915, was sent to France. He saw much strenuous fighting and the Division in which he served was mentioned in dispatches by General French. He was slightly wounded last September and writing home for the last time under date October 26th, he said his arm was going on alright. Then came the sad news of his death from a chaplain. The deceased soldier was very clever and received the congratulations of his Colonel of his battery upon his plucky spirit. He paid the supreme sacrifice at the age of nineteen years and seven months.
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