Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

The 1914 Star awarded to Private W. Collins, 4th Battalion, Royal Fusiliers (City of London Regiment), who was presumed killed at the Battle of Le Cateau on 26 August 1914

1914 Star, with clasp (10270 Pte. W. Collins. 4/R. Fus.) good very fine £80-£120

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, The Barry Hobbs Collection of Great War Medals.

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William Collins was born at Kensington, London and resided at Chelsea. He attested for the Royal Fusiliers in 1903 at Kensal Rise and following the outbreak of the Great War in 1914 he landed with the 4th Battalion at Le Havre on 13 August for service on the Western Front. His battalion, as part of the 9th Brigade in the 3rd Division with Smith Dorrien’s II Corps, was among the first to arrive in France, and proceeded directly to Mons where together with the 4th Middlesex they faced the first German attacks counting among their number Lieutenant M. Dease and Private S. F. Godley who were awarded the first V.C.s of the Great War for their defence of Y Company HQ at the Nimy railway bridge on 23 August 1914. After a fighting withdrawal south to trenches at Inchy, the Battalion was relieved by the 1st Northumberland Fusiliers on 26 August. They were in reserve positions during the Battle of Le Cateau but still suffered some casualties. The British War and Victory Medal Roll records Collins as presumed dead on 26 August 1914 and the CWGC officially records Collins date of death also to be 26 August 1914, however the British Army Registers of Soldiers’ Effects states ‘death presumed 29 October 1914’.

He was the husband of Elizabeth Collins, and having no known grave is commemorated on the La Ferte-sous-Jouarre Memorial, France.