From Rugeley to Boulogne

On August 30^th 1915, Tom Hollins (My half 1st Cousin 3 times removed) who was serving as a Private with the 8^th (Service Battalion) Royal West Kent Regiment arrived in Boulogne, France.

Tom was born in Rugeley, Staffordshire in 1891, the third child of Thomas and Hannah Hollins (nee Wood). He had an elder sister Mary Ann (born 1880) and brother William (born 1889) and a younger brother Albert (born 1894). He was 5ft 7in tall, with a fresh complexion, blue eyes and fair hair.

In 1911 the family were living at Sandy Lane, Rugeley. Tom was working as a Clerk in the Grocery trade and his younger brother Albert working as a grocery shop assistant. His elder brother William was working as a Labourer with iron Ore and his father was working as a coal miner.

His brother Albert had also joined up and was serving with the 8th Battalion (Prince Albert's) Somerset Light Infantry and was also awaiting deployment to France.