James Collins

James Collins James was born in Worksop in 1876 or 1877 and spent the first years of his life with his family at 41 Langley Street. Between 1881 and 1884, the family moved to the North East where in 1903 james married Harriet and set up home at 2 Portugal Place, Wallsend on Tyne. James worked at the pit as a coal hewer. By 1911 the Collins had three young boys aged 5, 2, and 7 months. Nevertheless, at the outbreak of war James volunteered and served with the 20 Battalion of the Northumberland Fusiliers (Tyneside Scottish) moving with them after training to France in January 1916 as part of the 102nd Brigade of the 34th Division. On the first day of the Battle of the Somme, 1st July 1916 the 34th Division attacked the German lines on either side of the Albert- Baupame Road. It advance across the widest part of "No Man's Land" and was almost completely destroyed within minuets of starting to advance. The 20th Battalion lost every officer and sergeant and the casualties of the other ranks in the Brigade amounted to 80%, including James Collins who has no known grave and is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial. Courtesy of Robert Illett

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