William Herbert Hollins (My third cousin once removed) was
serving as a Lance Corporal with the 7th Battalion Duke of Cornwall
Light Infantry. He had enlisted in November 1915 and had been out in France
since April 1916.
He was the oldest son of William and Amy Hollins (nee Saunders) and in 1916 he was just 19 Years old. His father William was working on munitions and his uncles had all joined up. Horace had been killed in April1916, Charles was still serving and George had just re-enlisted in the Royal Engineers after coming home following serving with the 6th North Staffords. His two aunt’s husbands - James Fisher, had just been killed at Hohenzollern Redoubt in October 1915 and Fred Williscroft had been discharged from the army in August 1914.
He was the oldest son of William and Amy Hollins (nee Saunders) and in 1916 he was just 19 Years old. His father William was working on munitions and his uncles had all joined up. Horace had been killed in April1916, Charles was still serving and George had just re-enlisted in the Royal Engineers after coming home following serving with the 6th North Staffords. His two aunt’s husbands - James Fisher, had just been killed at Hohenzollern Redoubt in October 1915 and Fred Williscroft had been discharged from the army in August 1914.
William Herbert Hollins |
The battle
of the Somme began on the 1st July, with heavy losses for the
attacking British forces including his half first cousin Albert Hollins. The
battle dragged on throughout the following weeks and months into one of terrible
attrition.
The 7th
DCLI were positioned in the ‘Brompton Road’ Trench, near Guillemont, which they
had moved into on the 21st August, having relieved the 3rd
Rifle Brigade and 12th Royal Fusiliers who had ‘gained and retained’
the railway station’ after heavy fighting. They remained in this frontline
trench under heavy bombardment with significant German counter attacks
occurring on the 23rd and 24th August. The net was
closing around the village and the Germans were desperate to retain this high
ground, throwing artillery and ‘bombs’ at the Brompton Road line. The DCLI’s final engagement in this area
involved a heavy bombardment and follow up attack by the enemy who were
targeting the supply lines to the frontline.
Bombarding
the supply lines and DCLI HQ which was situated in and around the Station, plus
an advance on the Brompton Road. Again the attack was repulsed and finally on
the 25th August the DCLI were relieved from the frontline and
returned to Carnoy (3 miles South West of Trones Wood for R&R.
Throughout
this ‘rest’ period, the 7th Battalion were repeatedly marching back
to this sector at night to repair and rebuild trenches. The weather is noted as
atrocious with persistent storms and heavy rain.
On the 29th
of August, the DCLI once again moved forward and relieved the 10th
Rifle Brigade. They had just completed a 9 hour fatigue (trench repairs) and
were immediately moving straight back into action. New trenches had been dug and
immediately attracted enemy fire, such that when the DCLI came up to take
occupancy they found very little cover, many dead or wounded and the trenches
literally ‘knee deep’ in mud.
This would
have been William’s final experience as no sooner had the DCLI completed the
relief of the frontline, the enemy shelling started once again.
The
Battalion War diary for the night of the 30th/31st August
reads as follows:
“Very wet night. Men
very tired, many of the men developing a form of trench foot. Incessant
bombardment in support and reserve trenches. Many tear or lachrymatory shells
used by Hun in this area. Bombardment so heavy and general that attack by enemy
was expected but did not materialise.”
It can be
assumed that William lost his life during this bombardment, and due to the poor
weather and terrain it’s not difficult to understand why his body remains
unidentified or indeed lost.
Guillemont Station (Sept 1916) |
This would have been directly behind William as he fought in the Brompton Road Trench.
William is commorated at the Thiepval Memorial on Pier and Face 6B. On the same panel are 5 comrades from the 7th Battallion who were listed as killed on the 31st August.
William is commorated at the Thiepval Memorial on Pier and Face 6B. On the same panel are 5 comrades from the 7th Battallion who were listed as killed on the 31st August.
L.Cprl Edgar
Fuller 15592 Age 25
Pte Ernest
Came 22316
Pte Ernest
Hazel Griggs 17455
Pte Archie
Smith 24477 aged 27
Pte James
Herbert Tullett 24347
The Coventry Evening Telegraph reported the news of William’s death on Saturday 23rd September 1916
The Coventry Evening Telegraph reported the news of William’s death on Saturday 23rd September 1916
Mr & Mrs W.
Hollins, 11 Francis Street have received official notice that their son Corpl.
W.H. Hollins 23942, Duke of Cornwall LI was killed in action in France on
August 30th last. He enlisted on Nov 30, 1915 and was in France four
months. Previous to joining the colours he was employed at Messrs. Matherson,
Huxley and Watson Ltd.
The following notice appeared in the Coventry Evening Telegraph on the
30th August the following year and the year after that.
Hollins – In Loving
memory of Lance Corporal William Herbert Hollins, DCLI who was killed in action
in France August 30th 1916. Deeply mourned by father, mother,
brothers and sisters.
He sleeps not in
his native land,
But under foreign
skies,
And far from those
who loved him best
In a hero’s grave
he lies.
With thanks to Stan Hollins who provided the original research.