From Factory to the Front Line

On the 30^th November 1915 William Herbert Hollins, aged 18, enlisted with the 7^th Battalion Duke of Cornwall’s Light Infantry.

William Herbert Hollins

He was the oldest child of William and Amy Hollins (nee Sanders). He was born in 1897 in Longford, Warwickshire.

He had 3 sisters Amy (born 1899), Elsie (born 1901) and Nellie (Born 1902) and four brothers Percy (born 1904), Sidney (born 1908), Reginald (Born 1910) and Kenneth (Born 1912).

In 1911, the family were living at 11 Francis St, Coventry. William eventually gained employment at Messrs. Matherson, Huxley and Watson Ltd. The company was an Iron, Brass and Aluminium Founders and suppliers of Castings for Motors. 

His father worked as an Iron Molder as did his uncle Horace Hollins who lived just a few doors away at No. 1 Francis Street.

His uncle’s Horace, George and Charles were all serving and his two aunt’s husbands - James Fisher, had just been killed at Hohenzollern Redoubt and Fred Williscroft had been discharged.

Acknowledgements

With thanks to Stanley Hollins for providing the photograph.