Thomas Collins
Following an appeal via local newspapers, radio and BBC Wales we are delighted to announce that a direct descendant of Private Thomas Collins, 14th Battalion, Welsh Regiment (Swansea Pals) has come forward – Mr John Abraham of Townhill, Swansea. He has indicated his desire to attend the unveiling ceremony of the Tunnellers Memorial on 19 June 2010. Please find below the details we had concerning Thomas Collins, his background, family, war service and death.
The Commonwealth War Graves Commission Debt of Honour record states that Thomas Collins died on 22 June 1916, aged 22, and that he was the son of Mr. and Mrs. Collins of 38, Colbourne Terrace, Swansea. He is remembered on the Thiepval Memorial on the Somme.
Pre-war Life
The 1901 Census records show 6-year old Thomas as the son of widower, John Collins of 5 Castle Walls, Swansea (in the parish of St Marys). This street has long since been demolished but is close to the current Argos store in the city centre. At that time John, born in Swansea, was 40 years old and working as a Dock Labourer. The other adult living at 5 Castle Walls is 28 year old Rachel Balling, a housekeeper. The children listed are 6-year old Tom, 4-year old David, 2-year old John and a 6-month old daughter named Nellie.
The 1911 Census reveals that John Collins and Rachel Balling are now married, but still living at 5 Castle Walls. In the intervening ten years they have had three further children: Alice (8) and James and William (2). John Collins is still a Dock Labourer. Thomas is now 16-years old and working in a bottling store.
War Service
Sadly, Thomas’ wartime service record was destroyed during German bombing in the Second World War. We know that he joined the 14th Battalion, Welsh Regiment (Swansea Pals) as his name appears on a list of the men who sailed for France in December 1915, compiled at the time by the battalion formation committee. It is typewritten and not 100% accurate: his initial is noted as ‘F’ instead of ‘T’, and the next of kin as his mother (presumably his step-mother Rachel Collins) of 50, Chili Crescent. Research has shown that this should be Shelley Crescent. The road (now renamed High View) is in the Brynmelyn area of Swansea.
A recent search of local newspapers from 1916 revealed the following photo of Thomas Collins. It is taken from the South Wales Daily Post of Thursday 13 July 1916 and is reproduced here with grateful thanks. The text reads:
“THOUGHT A GREAT DEAL OF” Pte. T. Collins, Welsh Regiment, son of Mrs Collins of 50 Shelley-crescent, Swansea, who has been killed. A chum of deceased wrote: “He was the nicest fellow anyone wished to meet, and was thought a great deal of by both officers and men.”
Surviving Family Members
Following his death in June 1916 the family would have been informed through the usual channels. In the 1920s when the cemeteries and memorials were being created, the IWGC (later CWGC) asked for information from families. As noted earlier, the CWGC record shows Thomas Collins to be the son of Mr & Mrs Collins, 38 Colbourne Terrace, Swansea.
Electoral rolls show that in 1918 John Collins actually lived at No. 58 (not 38) Colbourne Terrace. Colbourne Terrace is just two streets away from Shelley Crescent (now High View). The family had clearly moved house but had remained very much in the local community. A further electoral roll for 1938 showed the householder of No.58 Colbourne Terrace to be Rachel Collins. From this information we can only assume that John died between 1918 & 1938 (he would have been 59 in 1918 so this is most likely) leaving the house to his wife. The last electoral roll consulted was dated 1950 and it showed a W. Collins living at No.58. This could well be William Collins, youngest son of John & Rachel, half-brother of Thomas, who would have been 41 years old in 1950.
Sadly, 58 Colbourne Terrace no longer exists. The houses run from 1-55 on one side of the street and 56 up to 100+ on the other. House numbers 56-82 were demolished in November 2001 and a park was created in a bid to improve that part of the city.