10th Battalion Gloucestershire Regiment
William George Thomas Collins was born in 1897 to Josiah and Alice Ellen Collins of The Elms Gloucester Road, Churchdown. He had an older brother Frederick and younger sisters Maud and Grace.
He answered Kitchener’s call for volunteers shortly after the outbreak of war and joined the 10th Battalion of the Gloucestershire Regiment after its formation in September 1914.
After training, he crossed to France, entering theatre with the battalion on 9 August 1915. Assigned to the 1st Brigade, 1st Division on 17 August the battalion saw action throughout the Somme offensive mainly as part of III Corps. Fourth Army and fought during the battles of Albert, Pozieres, Flers-Courcelette and Morval.
Private William George Thomas Collins was killed in action on 18 November 1916 aged 19 years whilst the 4th Army fought the last actions of the Battle of the Ancre. He is buried in Warlencourt British Cemetery in the Pas de Calais and commemorated on the war memorial at St Andrew’s Church, Churchdown.