Military Chat

I know my Grandfather was in the Army during the first world war as I have photo of him but I can not find anything about him, all I know is that he died after the war in about 1921/22 and my grandmother received a war pension also he was in one of the battalions of the Royal West Kents.
HELP!

(below query comes from google search)

Chris :)

http://archiver.rootsweb.ancestry.com/th/read/KENT-ENG/2006-06/1151490197

I have Augustus Albert COLLINS, who may have been born 1876 in
Leicester, (this birth looks most likely so far).
He seems to have either a younger brother or other close relative Horace
COLLINS born 1884 in Sevenoaks, as they seem to have an attachment to
the same address.
Augustus married Elizabeth EVEREST in Sevenoaks in 1904, and during WW1
he was a Private in the Royal West Kent Regiment, he died age 44 in 1921
at Sevenoaks...

Sevenoaks Chronicle and Kentish Advertiser 22 March 1918

Sevenoaks Guardians And Rural Council
The Pension Issue Office wrote respecting Augustus Collins, a discharged soldier, as to continuing the pension to his wife and family, and it was decided to grant the application.

Chris :)

Marriages Jun 1904 (>99%)
---------------------------------------------------------------
Collins Augustus Albert Sevenoaks 2a 1463
Everest Elizabeth Sevenoaks 2a 1463


Deaths Jun 1921 (>99%)
----------------------------------------------------------
Collins Augustus A 44 Sevenoaks 2a 814


Births Sep 1876 (>99%)
---------------------------------------------------------------
COLLINS Augustus Albert Leicester 7a 221


http://www.freebmd.org.uk/cgi/search.pl

(from above)

Chris :)


19 May 1944 - Sevenoaks Chronicle and Kentish Advertiser - Sevenoaks

RIVERHEAD MOTHER'S TWO SONS

The sympathy of a wide circle of friends goes out to Mrs. E. Collins of 27, Chipstead-lane, Riverhead, the tragic loss of two of her sons in the Burmese campaign within six days...

(named as Horace Archer, 24 and Leonard Sidney, 23, with photo's, plus write up)

http://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/


edits (Horace on below)

http://www.genesreunited.co.uk/boards/board/living_relatives/thread/1356844


Shirley~I,m getting the hang of it Report 2 Jan 2016 12:03

Sadly it looks like Leonard and his brother Horace died in WW2

DEATHS ARMY OTHER RANKS (1939 to 1948) Transcription
Print transcription View image
First name(s) LEONARD S
Last name COLLINS
Death year 1944
Service number 6344403
Rank Private
Regiment or unit Royal West Kent Regiment
Record source GRO War Death Army Other Ranks (1939 to 1948)
Volume 6
Page 292


ARMY OTHER RANKS (1939 to 1948) Transcription
Print transcription View image
First name(s) HORACE A
Last name COLLINS
Death year 1944
Service number 6345118
Rank Private
Regiment or unit Royal West Kent Regiment
Record source GRO War Death Army Other Ranks (1939 to 1948)
Volume 6
Page 292


http://www.roll-of-honour.org.uk/cemeteries/rangoon_memorial/c/html/co.htm

Same man?

Augustus Albert Collins
in the Canada, British Regimental Registers of Service, 1756-1900

Name:Augustus Albert Collins
Age:19
Birth Date:abt 1876
Birth Place:Leicester, Leicester
Military Date:4 Nov 1895
Unit:97th Foot Soldiers

Michael, you could contact the Western Front Association to see if they have Augustus Albert's pension cards (these are different to the so called and incomplete pension records on Ancestry).

http://goo.gl/5W1yjk

There's a charge of around £25 (partially refundable if no record found) and it takes some time but can be well worth it.

Welcome to the Community boards Michael.



I'll let Michael know how to find his replies :-)

Augustus Albert Collins Regimental no; 4598
joined up 4th nov 1895
aged 19yrs 9 mths
height 5ft 5 & 5/8
97th foot soldier
this may help if you contact the WFA

Thank you Elizabeth, if this same person on his marriage cert in 1904 he was down as a recruit in the Royal West Kent's and on the 1911 census he was down as a labourer , the only thing I can think of is part time in the TA. All of his sons were in the TA. The 4th Bat The Royal West Kent's . I will have to find out more about the 97th of foot
Regards Michael Albert

try this
www. museum.maidstone.gov
it will cost you £15, but they may have his service record etc